>- 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


Class 


WASHINGTON    AND    THE    D  I )  < ,  H  E".     L  E  T  T  F.  R  . 
VA  LLF.Y    FORGE    1777. 

,-"old  by  AIMMII  .-,  to  i'ub.r;cnhin's  >mlv 
.1  M"  Butler.  Puhlirilu-r-.  '.'.<":'>.(  >1  i  iiir.uli  •••  ''  I'.  ''hi-nMiut  i'.\  .laviu-V  huiidiiK  ,  Ph 


WASHINGTON 


AT 


TOGETHER 


WITH  THE  DUCHE  CORRESPONDENCE, 


"  A  day,  an  hour  of  virtuous  liberty, 
Is  worth  a  whole  eternity  in  bondage 


V 

\  f  Of    THE 

UNIVERSITY 


PUBLISH  SB   BY 
J.  M.  BUTLER,  242  CHESTNUT  ST., 

(Dlti  Xumbcr  S.'», 
JAYNE'S  GRANITE    BUILDING, 


LIBRARIAN'S  FUKO 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858,  by 

J.  M.  BUTLER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


&  Soy. 


WASEIHCTQH  AT  VALLEY  f  QR&S. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  When  freedom  from  her  mountain  height 

Uiifurl'd  her  standard  to  the  air, 
She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night 

And  set  the  stars  of  glory  there ! 
She  mingled  with  its  gorgeous  dyes 
The  milky  baldric  of  the  skies, 
And  striped  its  pure  celestial  white, 
With  streakings  from  the  morning  light ! 
Then,  from  his  mansion  in  the  sun, 
She  called  her  eagle  bearer  down, 
And  gave  into  his  mighty  hand 
The  symbol  of  her  chosen  land  !" 

Joseph  Rodman  Drake. 

IN  the  history  of  a  nation,  how  frequently 
we  overlook  the  accomplishments  of  peace, 
for  the  glittering  page  that  records  their  con 
quests  and  their  military  fame !  The  absorb 
ing  interest  attached  to  scenes  of  strife  and 

(3) 


218653 


4  WASHINGTON     AT 

carnage,  chiefly  engross  the  attention  of  the 
reader;  they  glide  over  the  less  exciting  in 
cidents  of  the  story,  and  hasten  on  to  those 
scenes,  whose  terrible  realities  far  exceed 
the  wildest  illusions  of  romance.  The 
historian,  aware  of  this  proclivity  of  the 
human  mind,  imparts  interest  to  his  page, 
by  presenting  in  glowing  language  all  that 
can  allure  or  startle  the  reader.  What  varied 
emotions  are  excited  by  the  thrilling  narra 
tive  of  the  combat !  From  the  first  onset,  to 
the  final  overthrow,  every  event  is  presented 
with  terrible  distinctness;  and  the  blood 
stained  field,  ghastly  with  its  burden  of 
death,  is  vividly  pour  tray  ed,  dimly  revealed 
in  the  pale  moonbeams,  or  illumed  by  the 
glare  of  burning  villages,  adding  new  horrors 
to  the  scene  it  discloses. 

Although  the  brilliant  achievements  of 
the  battle-field  may  dazzle  by  their  evane 
scent  splendor,  and  excite  the  most  vivid 
emotions  of  the  mind  by  presenting  in  fear- 


VALLEY     FORGE.  5 

ful  reality  all  that  the  wildest  imagination 
can  conceive  of  what  is  dreadful  and  appall 
ing;  although  the  martial  theme  may  glow 
with  brightest  lustre  on  the  historic  page,  a 
nation's  most  enduring  glory  is  not  to  be  won 
in  scenes  like  these.  The  courage  that 
nerves  the  arm,  and  sustains  the  spirit  in 
the  battle's  shock,  is  but  a  savage  attribute; 
it  exists  in  the  bosom  of  the  hireling  soldier, 
and  animates  the  savage  beast  of  the  forest 
in  search  of  its  prey.  But  the  sublime  hero 
ism,  the  constancy  and  resignation  that  sus 
tain  the  patriot  in  his  country's  cause,  are 
far  nobler  attributes  than  those  which 
animate  the  mere  adventurer  in  the  bloody 
game.  When  fate  is  adverse,  and  cruel  for 
tune  presses  him  to  the  earth,  with  what 
pure  devotion  and  self-sacrifice  he  calmly 
awaits  the  propitious  moment  when  Heaven 
shall  reward  his  struggles  and  bid  his  suffer 
ings  cease  !  He  fights  not  for  the  spoils  of 

conquest,  nor  the  oppression  of  a  race,  but 
i* 


b  WASHINGTON     AT 

for  a  home,  rich  in  all  the  blessings  that  flow 
from  a  free  and  enlightened  country. 

This  was  the  spirit  that  animated  and  sus 
tained  the  patriot  army  when  it  lay  encamped 
at  Valley  Forge,  in  the  memorable  winter  of 
1777,  '78.  How  many  recollections,  endear 
ing  to  American  hearts,  are  associated  with 
that  sacred  spot !  It  was  there,  after  a  cam 
paign  of  four  months,  harassed  by  tiresome 
inarches  and  perpetual  alarms,  their  life  one 
continued  scene  of  hardship  and  danger,  they 
came  with  naked  and  bleeding  feet  amidst 
the  driving  snows  of  winter,  and  lay  down 
in  that  dreary  camp  to  become  acquainted 
with  hunger,  cold,  and  watchfulness !  There, 
in  the  midst  of  frost  and  snow,  they  erected 
Liberty's  altar;  and  the  history  of  the  world 
has  no  parallel  to  the  sublime  heroism  which, 
animated  and  sustained  by  the  immortal 
Washington,  upheld  the  cause  of  freedom 
through  the  gloomiest  period  of  American 
history  !  How  the  heart  thrills  with  admira- 


VALLEY     FORGE.  7 

tion  at  their  devotion  and  courage,  or  is  moved 
with  pity  at  the  recital  of  their  sufferings! 
Unhappy  men.  far  from  home  and  I  he  tender 
assiduities  of  friendship,  their  sufferings  un 
mitigated  and  unrelieved  by  their  almost 
despairing  country,  with  no  well  known 
voices  of  home  to  soothe  their  sorrows,  no 
wife,  nor  mother  near,  to  relieve  their  wants 
or  close  their  eyes  in  death  ;  they  sank  into 
the  grave  almost  unnoticed  and  unnumbered, 
with  no  friendly  tear  but  those  of  sorrowing 
comrades  shed  for  their  sufferings  or  mingled 
wilh  their  dust.  But  their  sufferings  have 
consecrated  the  spot  in  every  patriot  heart, 
while  history,  tradition,  and  art  shall  trans 
mit  the  tragic  story  to  remotest  posterity,  as 
a  sublime  incentive  to  emulation  when  the 
imperilled  liberties  of  their  country  shall 
summon  them  to  arms. 

After  a  few  unimportant  skirmishes  and 
show  of  battle  at  Whitemarsh,  the  British 
general,  seeing  no  probability  of  an  engnge- 


8  WASHINGTON     AT 

ment,  and  the  season    being    far  advanced, 
resolved    to    retire    into   winter   quarters    at 
Philadelphia,  after  directing  a  general  forage 
of  the  country  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Sfhuylkill.  On  the  3 Jth  of  November,  Wash 
ington  called  a  general  council  of  war,  for  the 
purpose  of  selecting  the  most  eligible  spot,  and 
to  decide  on  the  best  manner  of  cantoning  the 
troops   for   the  winter.      So  numerous  were 
the  selections,  and  so  conflicting  the  state 
ments  of  the  advantages  of  each,  that  Wash 
ington,  seeing  a  unanimous    decision    could 
not  be  hoped  for,  selected  on  his  own  respon 
sibility  Valley  Forge,  as  the  most    eligible 
spot.     Among  other  advantages  it  possessed, 
was  the  important  one  of  being  sufficiently 
near  Philadelphia,  to  watch  the  enemy  and 
prevent    its    foraging  parties  from  ravaging 
the  country.     In  general  orders  issued  two 
days  previous  to  the   patriot  army  quitting 
Whitemarsh,  Washington  gave  explicit  direc 
tions  for  the  erection  of  huts   to  shelter   the 


VALLEY      FORGE.  9 

troops,  canvas  tents  being  considered  utterly 
insufficient  to  shelter  them  from  the  severity 
of  the  weather ;  at  the  same  time  stating  his 
determination  to  share  with  his  soldiers  every 
hardship  and  privation  that  awaited  them. 
Nothing  could  have  been  more  deplorable 
than  the  condition  of  the  army  when  it  be 
gan  its  march  for  Valley  Forge ;  they  were 
wholly  unprovided  even  with  the  commonest 
necessaries  for  the  arduous  service  before 
them;  none  were  provided  with  sufficient 
clothing  to  protect  them  with  any  degree  of 
comfort  from  the  weather,  while  numbers 
had  nothing  but  rags  to  cover  them.  So 
pitiable  was  their  condition,  "that  they 
appeared  more  like  mendicants  than  the 
defenders  of  a  generous  country,"*  many 
were  entirely  without  shoes,  and  their 
naked  feet,  lacerated  by  the  hard  and  frozen 
earth,  marked  with  bloody  footprints  every 
step  of  that  sorrowful  march. 

*  OlisV  Dot  I  a. 


10  WASHINGTON     AT 

Valley  Forge  is  situated  in  Chester  County, 
about  twenty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Schuylkill ;  it  is  a 
deep  and  rugged  hollow7,  scooped  out,  as  it 
were,  from  the  side  of  the  mountain.  It  was 
on  the  mountainous  flanks  of  this  valley, 
and  the  plain  overlooking  it,  that  the  army 
encamped.  A  little  stream  runs  through  the 
valley,  turning  in  its  course  the  wheel  of  a 
cotton  factory  that  stands  on  its  banks,  near 
where  it  empties  into  the  Schuylkill ;  the 
factory  stands  on  the  side  of  the  old  forge 
erected  many  years  ago  by  Isaac  Potts,  who 
had  extensive  mining  interests  in  the  district, 
and  from  this  circumstance  the  place  derived 
its  name  of  Valley  Forge. 

In  the  season  of  summer,  when  nature 
shines  in  full  beauty  and  splendor,  when 
the  groves  are  melodious  with  the  songs  of 
birds,  and  pure  and  gentle  gales  blow  from 
the  mountains,  wrhen  every  hill-top  and  vale 
presents  a  scene  on  which  the  eye  loves  to 


VALLEY      FORGE.  ] 1 

linger,  the  visitor  to  Valley  Forge  will  find 
it  a  scene  of  exquisite  rural  beauty;  the 
little  stream  that  ripples  through  the  valley 
murmuring  a  gentle  invitation  to  enter  upon 
the  sacred  spot.  But  when  the  patriot  army 
approached,  it  presented  a  far  different 
aspect;  the  white  drapery  of  winter  lay  on 
the  dead  earth  like  a  shroud,  emblematic  of 
their  almost  expiring  hopes  of  home  and 
country ;  the  little  brook  was  silent  in  its  icy 
covering,  and  the  blasts  of  winter  howled 
their  fierce  welcome  through  the  defiles  of 
the  mountains;  the  whole  aspect  of  nature 
affording  a  sad  intimation  of  the  many  trials 
that  awaited  them. 

So  slow  was  the  march  of  the  army  that 
it  required  from  the  llth  to  the  19th  of 
December  to  reach  Valley  Forge.  On  the 
18th  the  entire  army  engaged  in  religious 
services,  Congress  having  recommended  it  as 
a  day  of  public  thanksgiving  and  prayer.  On 
the  morning  of  the  19th  the  army  reached 


12  WASHINGTON     AT 

V;illey   Forge,  and    immediately   began    the 
necessary  work  of  erecting  huts  for  shelter. 
They  worked  with   great  alacrity,  and  hill 
side  and  plain  were  soon  alive  with  activity 
and  bustle.     Excepting  those  who  were  too 
poorly  clad  to  admit  of  exposure,  all  worked 
with  zeal ;  the  strongest  cut  down  the  trees, 
others  fashioned  them  into   shape  and  con 
veyed  them  to  the  spot  where  they  were  to 
be  used;  and  soon  the  rude  huts  began  to 
rise    above    the    hitherto    deserted     plain. 
Washington,  to  stimulate  exertion    and    re 
ward  the  active  and    skillful,  promised  the 
reward  of  twelve  dollars  to  the  party  in  each 
regiment  who  finished  their  hut  in  the  most 
expeditious    and   workmanlike    manner;    an 
additional  reward  of  one  hundred  dollars  was 
offered  to  the  officer  or   soldier  who    could 
devise  a  suitable  form  of   covering  for  the 
huts  cheaper  and  more  easily  obtained  than 
boards.     In  a  few  days  the  barracks  were 
completed,  and  having  been  built  with  some 


VALLEY     FORGE.  13 

degree  of  regularity  in  streets  and  squares, 
presented  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a 
city.  Washington  now  removed  to  the 
dwelling  of  Isaac  Potts,  and  made  it  his 
head-quarters,  having  occupied  his  marquee, 
comfortless  and  exposed  as  it  was,  during 
the  building  of  the  huts,  according  to  his 
resolve  to  share  with  his  soldiers  every 
vicissitude  that  hard  fortune  imposed  upon 
them. 

On  the  spot  where  Washington  planted  his 
marquee  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  there  now 
stands  an  observatory  erected  by  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Rogers,  who  owns  the  cotton  factory  and 
much  of  the  landed  property  in  the  vicinity. 
It  is  a  handsome  structure,  octagon  in  shape, 
and  about  forty  feet  in  height,  with  a  spiral 
stair-case  leading  to  an  open  gallery  on  the 
top.  Standing  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  it 
affords  an  extensive  view  of  the  surround 
ing  country  and  the  camping  ground  of  the 
army. 


11  WASHINGTON      AT 

We  are  indebted  to  Lossing's  "  Field 
Book  of  the  Revolution,"  for  the  following 
account  of  the  encampment  and  the  disposi 
tion  of  the  troops  : 

"Near  Washington's  head-quarters,  on  a 
gentle  elevation  by  the  river,  were  stationed 
bis  body  or  life-guard,  under  the  command 
of  Charles  Gibb,  of  Rhode  Island.  A  little 
to  the  right  of  the  guard  was  the  brigade  of 
General  M'Intosh  ;  and  further  up  the  hill 
were  the  brigades  of  Huntington,  Coriway, 
and  Maxwell.  Between  these  and  M'ln- 
tosh's  brigade  were  a  redoubt  and  slight  in- 
trenchment,  and  directly  in  front  of  them 
was  a  line  of  abatis.  Nearer  the  Schuylkill, 
and  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  was  the  brigade  of 
General  Varnum,  near  a  star  redoubt.  At 
a  distance  of  about  a  mile,  and  forming  a  line 
from  the  Schuylkill  to  Valley  Creek,  was  the 
main  portion  of  the  army,  under  Brigadiers 
Muhlenberg,  Weedon,  Paterson,  Learned, 
Glover,  Poor,  Wayne,  Scott,  and  Wood  ford, 


VALLEY      FORGE.  15 

with  a  line  of  intrenchments  in  front.  The 
artificers  of  the  army  were  on  the  north  side 
of  the  creek,  opposite  the  General's  quarters; 
and  near  the  cotton  factory  was  the  army 
bake-house.  There  was  also  an  irregular 
line  of  intrenchments  along  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek.  Not 
far  southward  of  Rogers'  observatory  wras  a 
redoubt,  and  near  it  was  Knox's  artillery. 
The  remains  of  this  redoubt  are  yet  very 
prominent  in  the  woods,  on  the  right  side  of 
the  road  leading  from  Valley  Forge  to  Paoli ; 
also  the  redoubt  on  the  left  wing  of  the  en 
campment  (now  near  the  Reading  Railroad) 
is  well  preserved,  the  forest  protecting  it 
from  demolition." 

Thus  ended  this  severe  and  arduous  cam 
paign.  The  only  advantage  derived  by  the 
British  General  from  his  various  successes, 
was  the  important  one  of  having  secured 
most  excellent  winter  quarters  for  his  troops; 
and  this  advantage  was  enjoyed  to  the 


16  WASHINGTON      AT 

utmost.  With  them,  the  period  of  inac 
tivity  was  enlivened  by  scenes  of  gaiety  and 
splendor;  and  the  few  hours  devoted  to 
military  duty  were  followed  by  the  convivial 
scene,  where  plenty  abounded,  and  luxury 
wooed  them  to  indulgence.  But  how  differ 
ent  was  it  with  the  patriot  army  ! — there, 
amid  the  snow-covered  hills  of  Valley  Forge, 
Avhere  freedom's  flame  but  feebly  glimmered 
on  the  altar,  the  sons  of  freedom  were  con 
tending  with  hunger  and  cold,  and  every 
form  of  wretchedness  that  can  crush  the 
spirit  or  subdue  the  heart ;  while  their  ranks 
were  daily  thinned  by  diseases  insidious  and 
deadly,  and  more  fatal  than  the  sword. 

The  house  occupied  by  Washington  as  his 
head-quarters,  is  a  substantial  stone  edifice, 
standing  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek;  his 
own  room  was  very  small,  with  a  deep  win 
dow  looking  eastward,  and  commanding  a 
view  of  the  neighboring  slopes,  and  a  large 
portion  of  the  ground  where  the  army  was 


VALLEY      FORGE.  17 

encamped.  The  visitor  is  yet  shown,  in  the 
broad  sill  of  the  window,  the  little  trap-door, 
and  the  cavity  beneath  it,  which  Washing 
ton  had  arranged  as  a  secret  depository  for 
his  papers.  The  associations  connected  with 
this  sacred  spot  are  of  the  most  interesting 
character.  In  this  humble  apartment  Wash 
ington  toiled  unceasingly  to  alleviate  the  suffer 
ings  of  his  army,  and  to  retrieve  the  adverse 
fortunes  of  his  country.  As  we  stand  before 
the  little  casement,  and  gaze  upon  the  ex 
tended  prospect,  radiant  with  the  bloom  of 
spring,  the  mind  reverts  to  those  days  of 
trial  when  Washington  stood  here,  gazing 
writh  anguish  and  sorrow  upon  the  snow- 
covered  hills,  where  his  suffering  army  ]ny 
withering  in  the  grasp  of  winter  and  desii- 
tution !  How  frequently  has  this  little  win 
dow  shone  with  the  light  of  his  midnight 
labor,  gleaming  through  the  darkness  like  the 
star  of  hope  in  the  midst  of  gloom  and  de 
spair,  cheering  the  weary  sentinel  in  his 

2* 


18  WASHINGTON     AT 

bleak  night  watch,  as  the  guiding  star  of 
heaven  cheers  the  lone  mariner  on  the  track 
less  seas  !  How  frequently  has  this  hallowed 
room  witnessed  his  communion  with  the 
throne  of  grace,  when  oppressed  by  tjbe  trials 
inseparable  to  his  exalted  position !  LQne  of  ^ 
the  most  prominent  traits  in  Washington's 

character  was  his  steady  reliance  on  Divine 

~*\ 
assistance^  and  with  a  firm  conviction  of  the 

justice  of  his  cause,  he  moved  on,  calm  and 
serene,  amid  the  distrust  of  friends  and  the 
imputations  of  his  enemies,  with  bright  hopes 
and  brilliant  plans  for  the  future. 

The  following  affecting  incident  is  related 
of  Washington  in  Lossing's  beautiful  "  Field 
Book  of  the  Revolution;"  it  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  incidents  among  the  events 
of  that  sad  period  : 

"  Isaac  Potts,  at  whose  house  Washington 
was  quartered,  relates  that  one  dny,  while 
the  Americans  were  encamped  at  Valley 
Forge,  he  strolled  up  the  creek,  when,  not 


VALLEY      FORGE.  19 

f;ir  from  his  dam  he  heard  a  solemn  voice. 
He  walked  quietly  in  the  direction  of  it,  and 
saw  Washington's  horse  tied  to  a  sapling. 
In  a  thicket  near  by  was  the  beloved  chief 
upon  his  knees  in  prayer,  his  cheeks  suffused 
with  tears.  Like  Moses  at  the  bush,  Isaac 
frit  that  he  was  upon  holy  ground,  and  with 
drew  unobserved.  He  was  much  agitated, 
and  on  entering  the  room  where  his  wife  was, 
he  burst  into  tears.  On  her  inquiring  the 
cause,  he  informed  her  of  what  he  had  seen, 
and  added:  'If  there  is  any  one  on  this 
earth  whom  the  Lord  will  listen  to,  it  is 
George  Washington;  and  I  feel  a  presenti 
ment  that  under  such  a  commander  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of  our  eventually  establish 
ing  our  independence,  and  that  God  in  his 
providence  has  willed  it  so.'" 


Oli !  who  shall  know  the  might 

Of  the  words  he  uttered  there? 
The  fate  of  nations  there  was  tnrn'd 

By  the  fervor  of  his  prayer." — J.  L.  CHESTER. 


20  WASHINGTON      AT 


CHAPTER  II. 

Thy  spirit,  independence,  let  me  share ! 

Lord  of  the  lion  heart  and  eagle  eye  ; 
Thy  steps  I  follow  with  my  bosom  bare, 

Nor  heed  the  storm  that  howls  along  the  sky. 

Smollett. 

THE  impoverished  condition  of  the  army  at 
Valley  Forge  must  be  ascribed  to  a  number 
of  causes.  Congress,  being  inexperienced 
in  the  management  of  affairs,  and  particu 
larly  those  of  a  military  nature,  had  advised, 
as  if  in  an  enemy's  country,  the  seizure  of 
everything  that  could  serve  to  supply  the 
wants  of  the  arm}'.  This  measure,  though 
promptly  acted  upon,  and  pursued  with  in 
credible  exertion,  only  procured  a  meagre 
supply  for  a  few  days.  So  unpopular  was 
this  movement,  that  an  adverse  disposition 
soon  began  to  be  manifested  by  the  inhabi- 


VALLEY      FORGE.  21 

tants  of  the  surrounding  country.  They 
drove  their  cattle  into  the  woods  and  swamps, 
and  hid  away  in  secluded  and  secret  places 
everything  that  was  likely  to  be  seized  upon 
for  the  use  of  the  army.  Many  preferred 
encountering  every  risk  in  conveying  their 
property  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  were 
paid  for  it  in  hard  cash  by  the  British,  rather 
than  dispose  of  it  to  the  patriot  army  in  ex 
change  for  the  doubtful  paper  currency 
issued  by  Congress.  So  greatly  had  these 
bills  depreciated,  that  many  regarded  them 
as  utterly  worthless.  The  still  doubtful  issue 
of  the  contest,  and  the  instability  of  the 
government,  rendered  it  very  improbable 
that  the  vast  quantity  of  paper  money 
issued  by  Congress  would  ever  be  redeemed. 
Many  untoward  circumstances,  impossible 
to  be  controlled,  contributed  to  this  state  of 
affairs.  The  country  around  was  deeply 
tainted  with  toryisrn;  and  the  coercive 
measures  advised  by  Congress  had  alienated 


22  WASHINGTON      AT 

many  who  were  previously  well  inclined  to  (he 
cause.  The  peculations  and  deliquencies  of 
avaricious  contractors,  and  the  want  of  effi 
cient  commissaries,  greatly  increased  the 
general  distress,  and  contributed  to  those 
disasters  that  for  a  time  threatened  the  army 
with  dissolution. 

Scarcely  were  the  troops  settled  in  their 
encampment  at  Valley  Forge,  when  Wash 
ington,  apprised  of  an  intended  expedition 
by  Howe  to  forage  the  islands  of  the  Dela 
ware  and  the  country  around  Darby,  resolved 
to  detach  a  large  force  for  the  purpose  of 
intercepting  it.  An  inspection  of  the  maga 
zines  to  provision  this  force,  revealed  the 
appalling  fact  that  scarcely  a  single  day's 
supply  remained  in  the  camp.  This  fearful 
condition  of  affairs  not  only  compelled  the 
relinquishment  of  all  offensive  operations, 
but  revealed  the  necessity  of  immediate  and 
active  exertion  in  procuring  supplies,  if  the 
army  was  to  be  saved  from  famine  and 


VALLEY     F  0  B.  G  E  . 

dissolution.  The  absolute  powers  conferred 
upon  Washington  by  Congress  not  only  im- 
powered  him  to  levy  upon  the  surrounding 
country,  and  seize  upon  everything  that 
could  be  used  to  subsist  the  army,  but  that 
body  had  commanded  that  this  measure 
should  be  resorted  to ;  and  the  fatal  neces 
sity  that  existed  urged  its  immediate  and 
effective  consummation.  Foraging  parties 
were  sent  out  and  swept  the  country  around, 
but  the  greatest  exertions  could  only  procure 
a  sufficiency  for  a  few  days.  This  meagre 
supply  was  soon  exhausted,  and  all  subse 
quent  exertions  were  but  gleaning  the  field. 
Notwithstanding  the  pressing  necessity  that 
existed,  Washington  was  greatly  disinclined 
to  this  method  of  subsisting  the  army.  The 
supplies  were  meagre  and  unsatisfactory, 
and  could  only  be  procured  by  incredible 
exertions.  It  alienated  the  population  whose 
goods  were  seized,  and  greatly  strengthened 
the  disaffected  in  their  opposition  to  the 


24  WASHINGTON      AT 

government,  and  added  to  their  numbers. 
It  accustomed  his  soldiers  to  disregard  the 
private  rights  of  the  people ;  it  inclined 
them  to  lay  hands  upon  the  property  of 
others,  and  to  seize  upon  whatever  might  be 
used  for  public  service  or  contribute  to  per 
sonal  gratification  ;  it  promoted  lawlessness, 
and  engendered  a  spirit  of  license  and  in 
subordination  that  greatly  endangered  the 
safety  of  the  camp. 

Washington,  being  fully  aware  of  the  im 
possibility  of  subsisting  an  army  any  length 
of  time  by  compulsory  requisitions,  had  writ 
ten  to  the  various  Governors  of  New  Eng 
land,  urging  them,  in  the  most  pressing  lan 
guage,  to  forward,  with  the  greatest  despatch, 
provisions  for  the  army,  particularly  cattle 
which  abounded  in  those  provinces.  The 
Commissaries  had  repaired  thither  by  the 
direction  of  Congress,  and  made  contracts  for 
an  immense  supply  of  provisions.  But  here 
a  new  difficulty  presented  itself,  and  one 


VALLEY      FORGE.  25 

which  threatened  to  frustrate  the  good  ef 
fects  of  these  important  measures.  The  re 
verses  sustained  by  the  American  arms,  and 
the  gloomy  aspect  of  affairs  in  Pennsylvania, 
had  caused  t  he  enormous  issue  of  paper  money, 
which  Congress  was  continually  making,  to 
depreciate  to  one-fourth  its  nominal  value, 
so  that  one  hundred  dollars  in  paper  would 
command  but  twenty-five  in  specie,  while 
articles  of  necessity  had  advanced  nearly  in 
the  same  ratio;  so  that  in  order  to  complete 
their  contracts,  the  Commissaries  had  been 
obliged  to  conform  to  the  current  rates.  But 
Congress  disapproved  of  their  action,  and, 
unwisely  attributing  to  cupidity  what  was 
really  the  effect  of  public  distress,  either  re 
fused  to  ratify  their  contracts,  or  postponed 
the  execution  of  them.  In  addition  to  this, 
they  passed  a  law,  requiring  the  several 
States  to  establish  byr  express  laws  the 
price  of  labor,  and  also  to  fix  the  price  of  all 
articles  in  common  use  among  the  people. 


Zb  WASHINGTON      AT 

The  bad  effects  of  these  laws  wrere  soon  ap 
parent;  the  citizens  secreted  their  effects; 
the  regular  marts  of  trade  were  deserted  ; 
and  buyers  could  find  nothing  they  wanted 
either  in  the  markets  or  elsewhere. 

While  these  operations  were  pending,  and 
the  much  desired  relief  delayed  by  the  tardy 
action  of  Congress,  the  American  camp  pre 
sented  a  terrible  picture  of  distress;  gaunt 
famine  prevailed;  the  soldiers  were  enfee 
bled  by  hunger  and  exposure  ;  and  the  want 
of  everything  necessary  to  preserve  them  in 
health,  had  propagated  disease,  which  spread 
rapidly  among  them.  Overcome  by  a  mise 
rable  lassitude,  the  strong  as  well  as  the 
weak  sank  before  it;  the  hospitals  were 
crowded  with  miserable  wretches  who  looked 
forward  to  no  other  relief  but  that  of  death. 

One  of  the  severest  necessities  felt  by 
them  was  the  want  of  straw;  there  was 
none  in  the  camp,  nor  was  there  anything 
that  could  be  used  to  raise  them  from  the 


VALLEY      FORGE.  27 

ground  while  they  slept;  the  severe  and 
arduous  service  of  the  day  found  no  re 
freshing  repose  at  night — no  other  couch 
than  the  bare  and  frozen  earth.  This  proved 
a  most  prolific  source  of  disease,  and  more 
perished  than  by  the  sword.  The  hospital 
buildings  were  unsuitable  in  every  respect, 
and  overcrowded,  with  none  of  the  resources 
necessary  to  support  and  restore  the  sick. 
They  were  miserably  destitute  of  furniture, 
and  illy  prepared  in  every  respect  for  hos 
pital  purposes.  The  amount  of  distress  pre 
sented  by  these  dreadful  receptacles  baf 
fles  description,  and  humanity  must  shud 
der  at  what  it  failed  to  alleviate.  Con 
fined  to  a  scanty  and  unwholesome  diet — 
for  the  coarsest  provisions  could  scarcely 
be  procured — with  no  changes  of  linen,  so 
indispensable  to  the  comforts  of  the  sick,  and 
no  medicine  but  what  was  made  worse  than 
useless  by  the  pernicious  adulteration  of  ava 
ricious  contractors,  they  proved  rather  re- 


WASHINGTON     AT 

coptacles  for  the  dying  than  a  refuge  for  (lie 
sick;  and  where  the  voice  of  kindness  and 
sympathy  alone  should  have  been  heard,  the 
dreary  walls  echoed  only  the  wail  of  lamen 
tation  and  despair.  The  soldiers  regarded 
these  pestilential  abodes  with  horror,  and 
many  refused  to  enter  them,  preferring  the 
risk  of  perishing  in  the  open  air  rather  than 
do  so.  Their  defective  organization,  and 
the  absence  of  all  sanitary  regulations,  had 
engendered  the  hospital  fever,  and  hundreds 
of  valuable  lives  were  sacrificed  that  might, 
with  proper  assistance,  have  been  saved  for 
the  service  of  their  country. 

In  February,  out  of  nearly  seventeen  thou 
sand  men  that  had  entered  the  camp  the  pre 
vious  December,  scarce!}'  five  thousand  were 
fit  for  duty  ;  the  barracks  were  crowded  with 
men  unfitted  for  service  for  want  of  sufficient 
clothing  to  cover  them ;  and  large  numbers 
had  found  refuge  in  the  neighboring  farm 
houses,  unable  to  take  the  field  from  the 


VALLEY      FORGE.  29 

same  cause.  It  cannot  be  overlooked,  that 
if  General  Howe  bad  seized  the  opportunity 
and  made  a  sudden  attack  on  the  camp,  it 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  proved  victo 
rious  ;  for  it  would  have  been  apparently 
impossible,  with  a  starving  and  disabled 
army,  for  the  American  General  to  have 
successfully  defended  his  intrenchments ; 
and  had  he  been  compelled  to  take  the  field 
in  the  midst  of  so  severe  a  winter,  with  a 
force  unequipped  even  for  a  summer  cam 
paign,  it  must  have  resulted  in  the  dis 
persion  or  entire  destruction  of  his  army. 
Howe's  apathy  in  neglecting  so  favorable  an 
opportunity  is  unaccountable,  and  must  be 
ascribed  either  to  timidity  or  excessive  pru 
dence. 

The  pernicious  effects  of  the  many  evils 
that  pressed  so  severely  upon  the  American 
camp,  began  to  be  fearfully  prominent.  Al 
though  the  brilliant  example  and  patient  en 
durance  of  many  of  the  officers,  had  sup- 


30  WASHINGTON      AT 

pressed  everything  like  a  mutinous  disposi 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  troops,  it  cannot  he 
denied  that  all  system  had  greatly  relaxed, 
discipline  had  declined,  and  restraint  of  any 
kind  was  hut  slightly  acknowledged  ;  horses 
were  permitted  to  wander  into  the  fields  and 
to  be  lost  for  want  of  search,  or  perish  mise- 
rahly  in  the  highways  from  neglect  and  ex 
posure;  carts  and  other  vehicles  belonging 
to  the  army  were  permitted  to  encumber  the 
roads  useless  and  disregarded,  which  would 
have  been  of  incalculable  service  if  properly 
employed  ;  while  hundreds  of  men  were  con 
strained  to  perform,  as  they  really  did  with 
incredible  patience  and  exertion,  the  duty  of 
beasts  of  burden,  in  dragging  firewood,  and 
assisting  in  the  transportation  of  stores  for 
the  camp.  In  this  manner  many  of  the  evils 
resulting  from  the  defective  organization  of 
the  camp  were  remedied  to  a  considerable 
extent ;  but  how  can  we  sufliciently  appre 
ciate  the  patriotism  of  these  self-sacrificing 


VALLEY      FORGE.  31 

men,  who  maintained  with  unshaken  forti 
tude,  in  the  midst  of  frost  and  famine,  their 
pledge  of  fidelity  to  their  country;  and  firmly 
endured  every  vicissitude  that  attends  desti 
tution  and  misery,  rather  than  succumb  with 
dishonor,  and  disappoint  the  hopes  of  their 
country  in  the  hour  of  gloom  and  despair? 
Washington  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to 
ameliorate  the  sufferings  of  his  army,  and  to 
the  love  and  veneration  with  which  the  sol 
diers  regarded  their  beloved  Commander, 
must  be  attributed  the  continued  existence 
of  the  army  through  that  perilous  period. 
His  importunities  at  length  awakened  Con 
gress  to  the  imperative  necessity  that  ex 
isted  for  retracing  their  steps,  which  they 
did  by  advising  the  several  States  to  repeal 
their  laws  on  the  subject  of  prices  ;  they  with 
drew  their  restrictions  on  the  purchasing  com 
missaries,  and  permitted  their  contracts  to 
take  effect.  The  great  want  of  wheeled  car 
riages,  however,  greatly  delayed  the  arrival 


32  WASHINGTON      AT 

of  the  supplies,  and  so  muoh  time  was  lost 
in  procuring  these  conveyances,  that  much 
of  it  was  wasted  or  destroyed  before  the 
convoys  reached  the  camp.  In  the  mean 
time,  to  save  the  army  from  dissolution, 
Washington  ordered  a  general  forage  of  the 
surrounding  country  to  procure  supplies. 
General  Greene  swept  the  country  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  camp;  Captains  Lee  and 
M'Lane,  both  active  and  zealous  officers, 
were  despatched  to  the  States  of  Maryland 
and  Delaware,  and  Colonel  Tilghman  to  New 
Jersey.  These  commissions  were  carried 
out  with  great  zeal  and  activity;  they  pene 
trated  into  the  most  secret  places,  and  found 
vast  quantities  of  supplies  hidden  away; 
in  the  marshy  islands  of  the  Delaware  par 
ticularly,  they  found  hidden  large  droves  of 
cattle  intended  for  the  Philadelphia,  market, 
but  which  they  soon  compelled  to  take  an 
other  direction  towards  the  camp.  These 
supplies  were  timely  and  abundant,  and  went 


V  A  L  L  K  Y      F  0  II  G  E  .  33 

fnr  towards  relieving  (he  pressing  necessities 
of  the  camp. 

Amid  (he  numerous  calamities  that  pressed 
with  such  severity  upon  the  camp,  there 
was  none  which  caused  so  much  anxiety 
to  Washington  as  the  pernicious  exam 
ple  afforded  by  some  of  the  officers,  who  had 
openly  declared  their  intentions  of  quitting 
the  service.  Owing  to  the  great  depreciation 
of  the  paper  money  issued  by  Congress  and 
the  immense  advance  on  articles  of  consump 
tion,  in  consequence  also  of  the  season  and 
the  existing  commercial  difficulties,  many 
officers  had  found  it  impossible  to  live  upon 
their  pay  ;  those  who  were  destitute  of  pri 
vate  resources  were  compelled  to  live  in  the 
most  parsimonious  manner,  or  to  contract 
debts  which  they  could  not  liquidate ;  and 
many  who  possessed  private  fortunes  had 
greatly  embarrassed  themselves  by  en 
deavouring  to  maintain  an  appearance  suita 
ble  to  their  rank  in  the  army.  A  large 


34  WASHINGTON      AT 

number  had  already  resigned  their  commis 
sions  and  returned  to  their  families.  These 
resignations,  unfortunately,  were  not  confined 
to  officers  of  the  lowest  grade,  but  included 
some  of  the  bravest  and  the  worthiest  in  the 
army.  Their  quitting  the  service  at  this  period 
cannot  be  considered  wholly  a  dereliction 
of  duty;  they  considered  the  pitiable  condi 
tion  to  which  they  were  reduced  as  degrad 
ing  ;  and  although  willing  to  accord  all  that 
patriotism  could  demand  or  honour  require  in 
the  service  of  their  country,  they  could  not 
endure  a  condition  incompatible  with  their 
sense  of  personal  honour  and  self-respect, 
and  hence  their  disinclination  to  the  service. 
Washington  was  greatly  alarmed  at  the 
spread  of  this  spirit  of  disatfection,  and  was 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  stay  its  progress. 
He  spared  neither  promises  nor  encourage 
ment  in  his  efforts  to  do  so;  he  earnestly 
importuned  Congress  to  take  speedy  and 
effective  action  in  the  matter;  he  particularly 


VALLEY      FORGE.  35 

directed  their  attention  to  the  necessity  of 
securing  to  the  officers  half  pay  for  life,  or 
for  a  definite  term  of  years  dating  from  the 
expiration  of  the  war;  he  urged,  in  the  most 
forcible  language,  the  necessity  of  thorough 
measures;  he  told  them  it  was  in  vain  to 
rely  solely  upon  the  efforts  of  patriotism 
and  individual  sacrifices  to  maintain  a 
protracted  war;  and  that  it  would  be  impossi 
ble  to  bring  the  struggle  to  a  successful  issue 
without  the  incentive  of  interest  or  hope  of 
reward.  Although  the  struggle  had  furnished 
the  most  brilliant  examples  of  patriotism  and 
self-sacrifices,  and  many  continued  to  act 
from  the  same  noble  impulses,  yet  they  were 
wholly  inadequate  for  the  support  of  the 
war;  that  it  was  too  much  to  hope  for,  that 
large  bodies  of  men  could  be  held  together 
without  the  generous  support  of  the  govern 
ment;  and  as  it  was  impossible  to  entirely 
control  the  actions  of  men,  it  would  be  bet 
ter  to  secure  a  support  so  indispensable  to 


36  WASHINGTON      AT 

the  States  by  appealing  to  their  interest,  or 
offering  any  inducements  that  would  content 
them.  These  propositions  were  not  acted  upon 
as  promptly  as  wTas  desired  by  Washing 
ton  ;  they  were  coldly  received  by  Congress; 
they  considered  them  as  extraordinary,  and 
manifested  at  first  very  little  inclination  to 
grant  them  ;  they  considered  the  grants  of 
lands  already  made  to  officers  and  soldiers  as 
sufficient  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  moderate 
men.  They  were  soon  awakened  from  this 
state  of  indifference  by  the  necessity  that 
existed  for  the  most  effective  operations ; 
they  decreed  an  allowance  of  half  pay  for 
life  to  the  officers  of  the  army,  with  the 
reserved  power  to  commute  it  to  the  sum  of 
six  years'  half  pay  if  considered  expedient. 
Subsequently  they  passed  another  resolution, 
restricting  the  allowance  of  half  pay  to  seven 
years,  dating  from  the  end  of  the  war. 
These  measures,  unfortunately,  were  taken 
too  late  to  have  as  salulaiy  an  effect,  as  was 


VALLEY     FORGE.  37 

hoped  for;  a  large  number  of  officers  had 
already  resigned  their  commissions  and  re 
turned  to  their  families.  This  serious  defec 
tion  might  have  been  prevented,  to  a  great 
extent,  by  a  more  liberal  and  spontaneous 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  government. 

Notwithstanding  the  unremitting  exertions 
of  Washington  to  prepare  the  army  for  the 
ensuing  campaign,  the  advancing  season 
found  them  but  scantily  prepared,  and  the 
spring  had  entirely  passed  before  the  organi 
zation  of  the  army  was  completed.  By  a 
decree  of  the  27th  of  May,  the  infantry, 
cavalry,  artillery,  and  engineers,  were  organ 
ized  upon  a  uniform  system  throughout  the 
army ;  up  to  this  time  great  confusion  had  pre 
vailed  in  the  service,  owing  to  the  great  dis 
parity  existing  not  only  between  the  regi 
ments  of  different  States,  but  those  belong 
ing  to  the  same  State.  In  addition  to  the 
complete  organization  of  the  army,  it  had 
been  rendered  far  more  effective  in  its  disci- 

4 


38  WASHINGTON     AT 

pline  than  it  had  ever  before  been,  by  the 
services  of  the  Baron  Steuben,  a  veteran  com 
mander  and  disciplinarian  from  the  army  of 
Frederick  the  Great;  he  joined  the  Ameri 
can  camp  at  Valley  Forge,  in  May,  1778,  as 
a  volunteer,  and  was  almost  immediately  ap 
pointed  Inspector  General  with  the  rank  and 
pay  of  Major  General;  the  appointment  was 
accompanied  with  the  most  flattering  resolu 
tions  from  Congress ;  his  services  were  of 
incalculable  benefit  to  the  army,  and  the 
effects  of  his  rigid  discipline  were  seen  in 
the  skillful  manoeuvring,  and  in  the  firmness 
and  decision  of  the  troops  in  the  ensuing 
campaign.  He  was  a  brave  man,  devoted  to 
liberty,  and  a  warm-hearted,  generous  friend 
of  America. 

During  the  occupancy  of  Philadelphia  by 
the  British,  they  evinced  but  little  activity, 
and  their  stay  was  unmarked  by  any  impor 
tant  event;  they  contented  themselves  with 
foraging  the  country  around  Philadelphia, 


VALLEY  FORGE. 


39 


and  by  frequent  excursions  into  the  nearer 
parts  of  New  Jersey,  to  procure  supplies 
and  secure  the  roads.  These  enterprises 
were  of  the  most  ordinary  character,  with 
one  or  two  exceptions, — in  one  instance,  in 
the  month  of  March,  a  party  of  Americans 
were  surprised  at  PLmcock  House,  near  the 
Bridges  of  Quinton  and  Hancock,  and  were 
ruthlessly  massacred  while  appealing  for 
quarter;  they  were  completely  surprised 
whilst  sleeping  in  their  beds,  and  though  no 
resistance  was  made,  not  a  man  escaped  in 
this  unmitigated  murder.  They  also  at 
tempted  to  surprise  the  encampment  at 
Barren  Hill  on  the  left  side  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill,  under  the  command  of  the  Marquis  de 
la  Fayette,  but  were  completely  foiled  by  his 
activity  and  courage. 

While  these  events  were  passing  on  land, 
the  naval  contests  of  the  Americans  were 
marked  by  the  most  brilliant  success.  Brit 
ish  commerce  suffered  incredible  losses  by 


40  WASHINGTON      AT 

the  daring  and  enterprise  of  American  cruis 
ers,  they  conquered  hundreds  of  vessels,  and 
swept  many  a  rich  prize  from  off  the  coast  of 
England  itself.  These  maritime  conquests 
were  brilliant  and  decided,  and  afforded  a 
cheering  contrast  to  the  gloom  and  depres 
sion  of  the  land  operations. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Sir  William  Howe,  be 
coming  dissatisfied  with  the  course  of  his 
government  at  home,  had  offered  his  resig 
nation,  which  was  promptly  accepted,  and 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  appointed  his  successor. 
In  his  instructions  was  ordered  the  imme 
diate  evacuation  of  Philadelphia.  He  took 
command  of  the  army  on  the  llth  of  May, 
and  immediately  began  his  preparations  for 
departure;  in  the  meanwhile,  Washington, 
informed  of  his  evident  intention  to  abandon 
the  city,  placed  his  army  in  a  condition  to 
resume  hostilities  at  once. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  June,  a 
little  before  day-break,  the  British  left  the 


VALLEY      FORGE.  41 

city  and  commenced  crossing  the  Delaware  at 
Gloucester  point;  before  noon  the  entire 
army  had  crossed ;  and  toward  evening  the 
whole  force  was  encamped  around  Iladdon- 
field,  on  the  south  side  of  Cooper's  creek, 
about  five  miles  south-east  of  Camden. 

Washington  was  not  informed  of  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  until  the  British  had 
actually  crossed  the  Delaware ;  being  satisfied 
of  Clinton's  intention  to  push  forward 
towards  New  York,  he  immediately  broke  up 
his  camp,  and  pushed  forward  with  nearly 
his  entire  force  towards  the  Delaware  for 
the  purpose  of  intercepting  him.  General 
Arnold,  who  was  unfitted  for  active  service 
by  a  severe  wound,  took  possession  of  Phila 
delphia  with  a  small  detachment.  In  the 
brilliant  campaign  that  followed,  the  rapid 
marches,  the  spirited  manoeuvring,  and  well 
contested  field  of  Monmouth,  gave  unequivo 
cal  proof,  how  little  the  patriot  army  were 
broken  in  spirit,  or  diminished  in  courage, 


42  WASHINGTON      AT 

by  the    dreadful   sufferings  of   that   fearful 
winter  at  Valley  Forge. 

It  would  be  tedious,  in  a  sketch  like  this, 
to  advert  to  the  many  intrigues  and  cabals 
that  distressed  Washington,  and  embarrassed 
the  government  at  this  period;  many  indi 
viduals  prominent  in  military  and  civil  life, 
were  implicated  in  these  agitations ;  those  who 
are  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  Revo 
lution,  must  be  familiar  with  the  circum 
stances,  and  their  results  upon  the  past  and 
present  history  of  the  country.  There  were 
several  attempts  to  subvert  the  government, 
and  to  supplant  Washington  in  the  command 
of  the  army.  Although  fully  apprised  of  the 
artifices  employed  to  diminish  his  well  earned 
reputation,  his  exalted  mind  exhibited  that 
constancy  and  moderation,  that  evinced  his 
entire  subjugation  of  self  to  the  great  work 
before  him ;  he  indulged  in  no  secret  discon 
tent  against  his  country;  his  zeal  for  duty 
experienced  no  remission;  his  enemies  were 


VALLEY      FORGE.  43 

unnoticed  and  rendered  powerless  by  his 
silence,  and  in  his  devotion  to  his  country  he 
seems  to  have  forgotten  himself. 

One  of  the  most  insidious  of  these 
treasonable  efforts,  was  the  extraordinary 
letters  written  by  Jacob  Duche  to  General 
Washington,  imploring  him  to  abandon  the 
American  cause,  and  to  assist  in  the  subver 
sion  of  the  attempt  to  establish  the  indepen 
dence  of  the  country.  Duche  was  the  friend 
of  Washington,  and  had  officiated  as  chaplain 
in  the  first  Continental  Congress;  he  was  then 
rector  of  Christ  Church  in  Philadelphia,  and 
was  a  resident  of  the  city  during  its  occu 
pancy  by  the  British.  This  event,  though 
but  lightly  touched  upon  by  the  historian, 
and  but  casually  mentioned  in  revolutionary 
writings,  was  perhaps  the  most  critical  for 
the  country  and  its  hopes  of  any  similar 
attempt  during  the  struggle;  this  document 
was  as  fatal  to  the  peace  and  reputation  of 
of  its  author,  as  its  rejection  by  Washington 


44  WASHINGTON      AT 

is  the  grandest  monument  to  that  under  in  t- 
ing  honour  and  integrity,  that  shone  with 
such  constant  splendour  throughout  his  illus 
trious  career. 


CHRIST    CH  URCH,  PH  1LADELPHIA. 


VALLEY     FORGE.  45 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  subject  of  this  memoir,  Jacob  Duche, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  about  the  year 
1738.  His  family  was  of  Huguenot  origin, 
and  came  over  to  this  country  among  the 
early  settlers  who  accompanied  or  followed 
William  Penn,  though  at  what  precise  date 
we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain. 

He  graduated  in  1757,  at  the  Pennsyl 
vania  University,  in  Philadelphia,  and  pur 
sued  his  theological  studies  in  the  same  city; 
after  which  he  went  to  England  for  the  pur 
pose  of  being  ordained  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Episcopal  Church.  On  his  return  to 
Philadelphia,  he  continued  to  officiate  for 
many  years  as  assistant  minister  and  rector. 

The  early  period  of  his  life  is  marked  by 
no  particular  incidents.  He  was  gifted  with 


46  WASHINGTON      AT 

a  peculiar  style  of  pulpit  eloquence,  which  was 
pronounced  to  be  very  effective,  and  which 
procured  for  him  a  considerable  degree  of 
popularity  amongst  the  parishioners  of  the 
churches  in  which  he  officiated.  In  1771, 
he  published  his  "  Letters  of  Tamoc  Caspi- 
pina"  a  kind  of  half  political  and  half  reli 
gious  work,  having  reference  to  his  connec 
tion  with  Christ  Church  and  the  English 
politics  of  the  times.  The  name  was  com 
posed  of  the  initial  letters  of  the  words — 
"  The  Assistant  Minister  of  Christ  Church  and 
St.  Peters,  in  Philadelphia,  in  North  America." 

It  is  probable  that  the  name  of  JACOB 
DUCHE  would  have  long  been  forgotten  with 
those  of  many  far  greater  men,  but  for  its 
connection  with  the  important  events  that 
were  then  transpiring. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1774,  there 
assembled  in  Philadelphia,  in  Carpenter's 
Hall,  the  first  Continental  Congress ;  this 
august  body  was  composed  of  such  men  as 


VALLEY     FORGE.  47 

George  Washington,  Patrick  Henry,  Peyton 
Randolph,  and  a  brilliant  galaxy  of  others, 
numbering  in  all  fifty-one  delegates,  and  re 
presenting  all  the  Colonies  excepting  Georgia. 
The  first  two  days  were  spent  in  organizing 
and  arranging  preliminaries,  when  it  was 
proposed  by  Mr.  Gushing,  of  Massachusetts, 
that  their  sessions  should  be  opened  with 
prayer.  After  some  discussion,  arising  from 
the  fact  that  the  delegates  were  of  different 
religious  denominations,  it  was  suggested  by 
Samuel  Adams,  "  that  Mr.  Duche,  an  Eng 
lish  Episcopal  Clergyman,  might  be  desired 
to  read  prayers  before  the  Congress  to-mor 
row  morning."  This  motion  had  the  effect 
of  producing  unanimity  of  feeling,  Mr.  Adams 
being  himself  a  strong  Congregationalist.  In 
the  course  of  the  day  a  rumor  reached  Phi 
ladelphia,  that  Boston  had  been  cannonaded 
by  the  British.  It  produced  a  strong  sensa 
tion;  and  when  Congress  met  on  the  follow 
ing  morning,  (the  7th.)  the  effect  of  the  in- 


48  WASHINGTON      AT 

telligence  was  visible  in  every  countenance. 
Mr.  Duche  appeared  in  his  canonicals,  and 
attended  by  his  clerk,  he  read  with  great  so 
lemnity  several  prayers  in  the  established 
form,  the  clerk  making  the  responses.  Alter 
which  he  read  the  Psalms  for  the  seventh 
morning  of  the  month,  among  which  was  the 
Thirty-fifth  Psalm,  commencing  thus  : 

"  Plead  my  cause,  0  Lord,  with  them  that  strive 
with  me ;  fight  against  them  that  fight  against  me. 

u  Lay  hand  upon  the  shield  and  buckler,  and  stand 
up  to  help  me. 

"  Bring  forth  the  spear  and  stop  the  way  against 
them  that  persecute  me  :  say  unto  my  soul,  I  am  thy 
salvation,"  &c. 

The  singular  appropriateness  of  this  ap 
peared  to  strike  all  present.  John  Adams, 
in  a  letter  to  his  wife  on  the  day  following, 
thus  describes  the  scene : 

"  1  never  saw  a  greater  effect  upon  an 
audience.  It  seemed  as  if  Heaven  had 
ordained  that  Psalm  to  be  read  on  that 
morning.  After  (his  Mr.  Duche,  unexpcct- 


VALLEY      FORGE.  49 

edly  to  every  body,  struck  out  into  an  ex 
temporary  prayer,  which  filled  the  bosom  of 
every  man  present.  I  must  confess  I  never 
heard  a  better  prayer,  or  one  so  well  pro 
nounced."  For  the  benefit  of  our  readers, 
uho  may  not  have  seen  it,  we  will  give  this 
prayer  in  full : 

"  0  Lord  our  Heavenly  Father,  high  and  mighty 
King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  who  dost  from  thy 
throne  behold  all  the  dwellers  on  earth,  and  reignest 
with  power  supreme  and  uncontrolled  over  all  king 
doms,  empires,  and  governments  ;  look  down  in  mercy, 
we  beseech  thee,  on  these  American  States,  who  have 
fled  to  thee  from  the  rod  of  the  oppressor,  and 
thrown  themselves  on  thy  gracious  protection,  de 
siring  to  be  henceforth  dependent  only  on  thee  ;  to  thee 
they  have  appealed  for  the  righteousness  of  their 
cause;  to  thee  do  they  now  look  up  for  that  counte 
nance  and  support  which  thou  alone  canst  give ;  take 
them,  therefore,  Heavenly  Father,  under  thy  nurtur 
ing  care;  give  them  wisdom  in  council,  and  valor  in 
the  field  ;  defeat  the  malicious  designs  of  our  cruel 
adversaries;  convince  them  of  the  unrighteousness  of 
their  cause;  and  if  they  still  persist  in  their  sangui 
nary  purposes,  Oh  !  let  the  voice  of  thine  own  unerring 
justice  sounding  in  their  hearts,  constrain  them  to 
drop  the  weapons  of  war  from  their  unnerved  hands 


-50  WASHINGTON      AT 

in  the  day  of  battle.  Be  them  present,  O  God  of  wis 
dom,  and  direct  the  councils  of  this  honorable  assem 
bly;  enable  them  to  settle  things  on  the  best  and 
surest  foundation,  that  the  scene  of  blood  may  be 
speedily  closed,  that  order,  harmony,  and  peace  may 
be  effectually  restored;  and  truth  and  justice,  religion 
and  piety,  prevail  and  flourish  amongst  thy  people. 
Preserve  the  health  of  their  bodies  and  the  vigor  of 
their  minds;  shower  down  on  them  and  the  millions 
they  here  represent,  such  temporal  blessings  as  thou 
seest  expedient  for  them  in  this  world,  and  crown  them 
with  everlasting  glory  in  the  world  to  come.  All  this 
we  ask  in  the  name  and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ,  thy  Son,  our  Saviour.  Amen  I" 

The  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and  the 
eloquent  manner  in  which  this  prayer  was 
delivered,  seemed  to  affect  every  one  pre 
sent,  particular^  Washington,  who,  it  is  re 
marked,  while  others  stood,  went  through 
the  ceremony  in  a  kneeling  posture. 

By  a  vote  of  Congress,  Duche  was  thanked 
for  the  eloquent  prayer  he  delivered  on  this 
occasion. 

At  this  time,  he  was  assistant  rector  of 
two  churches,  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's; 


VALLEY      FORGE.  51 

and  in  the  year  following,  at  the  death  of 
Dr.  Richard  Peters,  the  rector  of  these 
churches,  Mr.  Duche  was  appointed  to  the 
rectorship. 

In  July,  1776,  Mr.  Duche  was  appointed 
chaplain  to  Congress,  with  a  salary  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

He  held  his  situation  as  chaplain  about 
three  months,  and  then  resigned ;  his  salary 
he  hestowed  upon  the  families  of  those  slain 
in  battle.  Whether  his  principles  had  under 
gone  a  change  at  this  time  we  cannot  say;  he 
had  never  evinced  much  force  of  character 
in  his  opposition  to  the  British  government, 
and  his  participation  in  the  Revolutionary 
movement  can  be  considered  nothing  more 
than  a  tacit  acquiescence  in  the  events  trans 
piring  around  him;  he  must,  however,  have 
continued  obnoxious  to  the  tories,  for  it 
appears  that  a  day  previous  to  Howe's  entry 
into  Philadelphia,  he  was  seized  by  a  party 
of  them  and  thrown  into  prison. 


52  WASHINGTON      AT 

When  the  British  were  in  possession  of 
Philadelphia,  Duche  was  much  in  the  com 
pany  of  the  officers,  whose  congenial  society 
and  polite  manners  seem  to  have  operated 
upon  his  pliant  disposition,  and  to  sway  a 
mind  not  sufficiently  strong  to  resist  the  in 
fluences  at  work  around  him.  If  we  can 
believe  his  own  assertions,  he  had  never 
entered  ardently  into  the  American  cause, 
and  when  appointed  chaplain  to  Congress, 
he  received  the  appointment  with  regret, 
and  performed  its  duties  with  reluctance. 
His  early  resignation  of  the  office,  and  the 
bestowal  of  his  salary  on  the  families  of 
those  slain  in  battle,  seem  rather  to  have 
arisen  from  a  desire  to  avoid  all  complicity 
in  the  cause,  than  from  •  any  benevolent 
motive.  His  English  education,  and  the 
allegiance  to  his  sovereign  inculcated  by  the 
religion  he  professed,  no  doubt  contributed 
to  weaken  the  adverse  position  he  had  at 
first  assumed  toward  the  mother  country. 


VALLEY      FORGE.  53 

Though  possessed  of  an  elegant  and  refined 
mind,  it  was  unfortunately  connected  with  a 
weak  and  facile  disposition,  and  entirely 
wanting  in  those  strong  qualities  necessary 
to  confront  the  storm  of  war  that  was  lower 
ing  over  his  country. 

In  his  letter,  he  distinctly  disclaims  all 
coercion  on  the  part  of  the  British,  and 
assumes  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  act, 
so  that  whatever  of  infamy  or  disgrace  may 
be  attached  to  it,  must  properly  belong  to 
himself.  Had  his  intervention  been  purely 
the  dictates  of  a  Christian  heart,  anxious  to 
save  the  effusion  of  blood  and  restore  peace 
to  a  distracted  country,  he  would  have  re 
tained  his  honour,  and  posterity  would  have 
vindicated  his  character  though  it  may  have 
condemned  the  act;  but  when  he  descended 
from  this  high  position,  to  vilify  the  nohle 
men  who  had  pledged  their  lives,  their  for 
tunes,  and  their  sacred  honours  in  the  con 
test,  and  to  deride  the  efforts  of  those  who 


54  WASHINGTON      AT 

hud  forsaken  home  and  family  to  endure  the 
vicissitudes  of  war,  lie  assumed  a  position  in 
American  history  in  which  he  has  hut  one 
associate,  and  from  which  the  charitable  his 
torian  will  never  desire  to  withdraw  the  veil, 
concealing  the  only  blot  that  dims  the  lustre 
of  our  Revolutionary  fame. 

The  bearer  of  this  letter  to  General  Wash 
ington  was  an  American  lady,  the  daughter 
of  Doctor  Thomas  Graeme  of  Pennsylvania, 
then  the  wife  of  Hugh  Ferguson.  She  was 
a  woman  of  superior  character  and  attain 
ments,  and,  although  the  wife  of  an  enemy 
to  the  country,  had  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  leading  patriots.  It  is  supposed 
she  was  not  acquainted  with  the  contents  of 
the  letter,  and  that  her  motive  was  entirely 
pure.  When  the  letter  began  to  be  circu 
lated,  she  was  at  first  suspected  as  a  British 
emissary;  she  lived,  however,  to  see  all  these 
suspicions  dissipated. 


THE:   REV.  .JACOB   DUCHE. 

RECTOR    OF   CHRIST   CHURCH  &.  57    PETERS.   PHILAD* 


VALLEY     FORGE.  OO 

FROM    THE    REVEREND    JACOB    DUCIIE. 

[Philadelphia],  8  October,  1777.* 

SIR, 

If  this  letter  should  find  you  in  Council,  or  in  the 
field,  before  you  read  another  sentence,  I  beg  you  to 
take  the  first  opportunity  of  retiring,  and  weighing  its 
important  contents.  You  are  perfectly  acquainted 
with  the  part  I  formerly  took  in  the  present  unhappy 
contest.  I  was,  indeed,  among  the  first  to  bear  my 
public  testimony  against  having  any  recourse  to 
threats,  or  indulging  a  thought  of  an  armed  oppo 
sition. 

*  This  extra  ordinary  letter  was  immediately  transmitted  by 
Washington  to  Congress.  In  a  letter  to  the  President  of 
Congress,  dated  October  16th,  which  accompanied  it,  he 
wrote  as  follows  : 

"  I  yestmluy,  through  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Ferguson,  of 
fJraham  Park,  received  a  letter,  of  a  very  cm-ions  and  extra 
ordinary  nature,  from  Mr.  Jacob  Duch6,  which  I  have 
1ho:ight  proper  to  transmit  to  Congress.  To  this  ridiculous, 
illiberal  performance,  I  made  a  short  reply,  by  desiring  the 
bearer  of  it,  if  she  should  hereafter,  by  any  accident,  meet  Mr. 
Duche,  to  tell  him  I  should  have  returned  it  unopened,  if  I 
had  had  any  idea  of  the  content?  ;  observing,  at  the  same 
time,  that  I  highly  disapproved  the  intercourse  she  seemed  to 
have  been  carrying  on,  and  expected  it  would  be  discontinued. 
Notwithstanding  ihe  author's  assertion,  I  cannot  but  sus 
pect  that  the  measure  did  not  originate  with  him,  and  that 
he  was  induced  to  it  by  the  hope  of  establishing  his  interest 
and  peace  more  effectually  with  the  enemy." 


56  W  A  S  II  I  N  G  T  0  N      AT 

The  current,  however,  was  too  strong  for  my  feeble 
efforts  to  resist.  I  wished  to  follow  my  countrymen 
as  far  only  as  virtue,  and  the  righteousness  of  their 
cause,  would  permit  me.  I  was,  however,  prevailed 
on,  among  the  rest  of  my  clerical  brethren  of  this 
city,  to  gratify  the  pressing  desires  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  by  preaching  a  sermon  to  the  second  city 
battalion.  I  was  pressed  to  publish  this  sermon,  and 
reluctantly  consented.  From  a  personal  attachment, 
of  nearly  twenty  years'  standing,  and  a  high  respect 
for  your  character,  in  private  as  well  as  public  life,  I 
took  the  liberty  of  dedicating  this  sermon  to  you.  I 
had  your  affectionate  thanks  for  my  performance,  in  a 
letter,  wherein  was  expressed,  in  the  most  delicate 
and  obliging  terms,  your  regard  for  me,  and  your 
wishes  for  a  continuance  of  my  friendship  and  appro 
bation  of  your  conduct.  Further  than  this  I  in 
tended  not  to  proceed.  My  sermon  speaks  for  itself, 
and  wholly  disclaims  the  idea  of  independency.  My 
sentiments  were  well  known  to  my  friends.  I  com 
municated  them,  without  reserve,  to  many  respectable 
members  of  Congress,  who  expressed  their  warm  ap 
probation  of  it  then.  I  persisted,  to  the  very  last 
moment,  to  use  the  prayers  for  my  Sovereign,  though 
threatened  with  insults  from  the  violence  of  a  party. 

Upon  the  declaration  of  independency,  I  called  my 
vestry,  and  solemnly  put  the  question  to  them,  whether 
they  thought  it  best,  for  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the 
congregation,  to  shut  up  the  churches,  or  to  continue 
the  service,  without  using  the  prayers  for  the  lloyal 


VALLEY      FORGE.  b7 

Family.  This  was  the  sad  alternative.  I  concluded 
to  abide  by  their  decision,  as  I  could  not  have  time  to 
consult  my  spiritual  superiors  in  England.  They  de 
termined  it  most  expedient,  under  such  critical  circum 
stances,  to  keep  open  the  churches,  that  the  congrega 
tions  might  not  be  dispersed,  which  we  had  great 
reason  to  apprehend. 

A  very  few  days  after  the  fatal  declaration  of  inde 
pendency,  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Hancock,  sent 
by  express  to  Gerniantown,  where  my  family  were  for 
the  summer  season,  acquainting  me  I  was  appointed 
Chaplain  to  the  Congress,  and  desired  my  attendance  next 
morning,  at  nine  o'clock.  Surprised  and  distressed,  as 
I  was,  by  an  event  I  was  not  prepared  to  expect  j 
obliged  to  give  an  immediate  attendance,  without  the 
opportunity  of  consulting  my  friends,  I  easily  ac 
cepted  the  appointment.  I  could  have  but  one  mo 
tive  for  taking  this  step.  I  thought  the  churches  in 
danger,  and  hoped,  by  this  means,  to  have  been  instru 
mental  in  preventing  those  ills  I  had  so  much  reason 
to  apprehend.  I  can,  however,  with  truth,  declare,  I 
then  looked  upon  independency  rather  as  an  expedi 
ent,  and  hazardous,  or,  indeed,  thrown  out  in  terrorem,  I 
in  order  to  procure  some  favorable  terms,  than  a  mea-  \J 
sure  that  was  seriously  persisted  in,  at  all  events. 
My  sudden  change  of  conduct  will  clearly  evince  this 
to  have  been  my  idea  of  the  matter. 

Upon  the  return  of  the  Committee  of  Congress,  ap 
pointed  to  confer  with  Lord  Howe,  I  soon  discerned 
their  whole  intentions.  The  different  accounts  which 


58  W  A  S  II  I  X  G  T  0  N      A  T 

each  member  gave  of  this  conference,  the  time  they 
took  to  make  up  the  matter  for  public  view,  and  the 
amazing  disagreements  between  the  newspaper  ac 
counts,  and  the  relation  I  myself  had  from  the  mouth 
of  one  of  the  Committee,  convinced  me  there  must 
have  been  some  unfair  and  ungenerous  procedure. 
1  his  determination  to  treat,  on  no  other  strain  than 
that  of  independency,  which  put  it  out  of  his  Lord 
ship's  power  to  mention  any  terms  at  all,  was  sufficient 
proof  to  me  that  independency  was  the  idol  they  had 
long  wished  to  set  up,  and  that,  rather  than  sacrifice 
this,  they  would  deluge  their  country  with  blood. 
From  this  moment  I  determined  upon  my  resignation, 
and,  in  the  beginning  of  October,  1776,  sent  it,  in 
form,  to  Mr.  Hancock,  after  having  officiated  only  two 
months  and  three  weeks;  and  from  that  time,  as  far 
as  my  safety  would  permit,  I  have  been  opposed  to  all 
their  measures. 

This  circumstantial  account  of  my  conduct,  I  think 
due  to  the  friendship  you  were  so  obliging  as  to  ex 
press  for  me,  and,  I  hope,  will  be  sufficient  to  justify 
my  seeming  inconsistencies  in  the  part  I  have  acted. 

And  now,  dear  Sir,  suffer  me,  in  the  language  of 
truth  and  real  affection,  to  address  myself  to  you.  All 
the  world  must  be  convinced  you  arc  engaged  in  the 
service  of  your  country  from  motives  perfectly  disin 
terested.  You  risked  every  thing  that  was  dear  to 
you,  abandoned  the  sweets  of  domestic  life,  which  your 
affluent  fortune  can  give  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment 
of.  But  had  you,  could  you  have  had,  the  least  idea 


V  A  L  L  E  Y     F  0  R  G  E  .  59 

of  matters  being  carried  to  such  a  dangerous  extre 
mity?  Your  most  intimate  friends  shuddered  at  the 
thought  of  a  separation  from  the  mother  country,  and 
I  took  it  for  granted  that  your  sentiments  coincided 
with  theirs.  What,  then,  can  be  the  consequence  of 
this  rash  and  violent  measure,  and  degeneracy  of  re 
presentation,  confusion  of  councils,  blunders  without 
number?  The  most  respectable  characters  have  with-  v  / 
drawn  themselves,  and  are  succeeded  by  a  great  majo 
rity  of  illiberal  and  violent  men.  Take  an  impartial 
view  of  the  present  Congress,  and  what  can  you  ex 
pect  from  them  ?  Your  feelings  must  be  greatly  hurt 
by  the  representation  of  your  native  Province.  You 
have  no  longer  a  Randolph,  a  Bland,  or  a  Braxton, 
men,  whose  names  will  ever  be  revered,  whose  de 
mands  never  ran  above  the  first  ground  on  which  they 
set  out,  and  whose  truly  glorious  and  virtuous  senti 
ments  I  have  frequently  heard  with  rapture  from  their 
own  lips.  Oh !  my  dear  Sir,  what  a  sad  contrast  of 
characters  now  presents;  others,  whose  friends  can 
ne'er  mingle  with  your  own.  Your  Harrison  alone 
remains,  and  he  disgusted  with  the  unworthy  asso 
ciates. 

As  to  those  of  my  own  Province,  some  of  them  are 
so  obscure,  that  their  very  names  were  never  in  my 
ears  before,  and  others  have  only  been  distinguished 
for  the  weakness  of  their  understandings,  and  the  vio 
lence  of  their  tempers.  One  alone  I  except  from  the 
general  charge;  a  man  of  virtue,  dragged  reluctantly 
into  their  measures,  and  restrained,  by  some  false  ideas 


60  WASHINGTON      AT 

of  honor,  from  retreating,  after  having  gone  too  far. 
You  cannot  be  at  a  loss  to  discover  whose  name  answers 
to  this  character. 

From  the  New  England  provinces  can  you  find  one 
that,  as  a  gentleman,  you  could  wish  to  associate  with, 
unless  the  soft  and  mild  address  of  Mr.  Hancock  can 
atone  for  his  want  of  every  other  qualification  neces 
sary  for  the  seat  which  he  fills?  Bankrupts,  attor 
neys,  and  men  of  desperate  fortunes  are  his  colleagues. 
Maryland  no  longer  sends  a  Tilghman  and  a  Protest 
ant  Carroll.  Carolina  has  lost  her  Lynch;  and  the 
elder  Middleton  has  retired.  Are  the  dregs  of  Con 
gress,  then,  still  to  influence  a  mind  like  yours? 
These  are  not  the  men  you  engaged  to  serve;  these 
are  not  the  men  that  America  has  chosen  to  represent 
her.  Most  of  them  were  chosen  by  a  little,  low  fac 
tion,  and  the  few  gentlemen  that  are  among  them  now 
are  well  known  to  lie  on  the  balance,  and  looking  up 
to  your  hand  alone  to  turn  the  beam.  ;Tis  you,  Sir, 
and  you  only,  that  support  the  present  Congress;  of 
this  you  must  be  fully  sensible.  Long  before  they 
left  Philadelphia,  their  dignity  and  consequence  were 
gone;  what  must  it  be  now,  since  their  precipitate  re 
treat?  I  write  with  freedom,  but  without  invective; 
I  know  these  things  to  be  true,  and  I  write  to  one 
whose  own  observation  must  have  convinced  him  that 
it  is  so. 

After  this  view  of  the  Congress,  turn  to  the  army. 
The  whole  world  knows  that  its  only  existence  de 
pends  upon  you ;  that  your  death  or  captivity  dis- 


VALLEY      FORGE.  61 

perses  it  in  a  moment,  and  that  there  is  not  a  man  on 
that  side  the  question,  in  America,  capable  of  succeed 
ing  you.  As  to  the  army  itself,  what  have  you  to  ex 
pect  from  them?  Have  they  not  frequently  aban 
doned  you  yourself,  in  the  hour  of  extremity  ?  Can 
you  have  the  least  confidence  in  a  set  of  undisciplined 
men  and  officers,  many  of  whom  have  been  taken  from 
the  lowest  of  the  people,  without  principle,  without 
courage  ?  Take  away  them  that  surround  your  per 
son,  how  very  few  there  are  you  can  ask  to  sit  at  your 
table  !  As  to  your  little  navy,  of  that  little,  what  is 
left?  Of  the  Delaware  fleet,  part  are  taken,  and  the 
rest  must  soon  surrender.  Of  those  in  the  other  pro 
vinces,  some  are  taken,  one  or  two  at  sea,  and  others 
lying  unmanned  and  unrigged  in  your  harbors. 

And,  now,  where  are  your  resources  ?  Oh  !  my 
dear  Sir,  how  sadly  have  you  been  abused  by  a  faction 
void  of  truth,  and  void  of  tenderness  to  you  and  your 
country  !  They  have  amused  you  with  hopes  of  a  de 
claration  of  war  on  the  part  of  France.  Believe  me,  from 
the  best  authority,  it  was  a  fiction  from  the  first.  Early 
in  the  year  1776,  a  French  gentleman  was  introduced 
to  me,  with  whom  I  became  intimately  acquainted. 
His  business,  to  all  appearance,  was  to  speculate  in 
the  mercantile  way.  But,  I  believe  it  will  be  found 
that  in  his  country  he  moved  in  a  higher  sphere. 
He  saw  your  cause.  He  became  acquainted  with  all 
your  military  preparations.  He  was  introduced  to 
Congress,  and  engaged  with  them  in  a  commercial 
contract.  In  the  course  of  our  intimacy,  he  has  fre- 
6 


62  WASHINGTON      AT 

quently  told  mo,  that  ho  hoped  the  Americans  would 
never  think  of  independency.  He  gave  me  his  reasons: 
"  Independency  can  never  be  supported,  unless  France 
should  declare  war  against  England.  I  well  know 
the  state  of  her  finances.  Years  to  come  will  not  put 
them  in  a  situation  to  enter  upon  a  breach  with  Eng 
land.  At  this  moment,  there  are  two  pavties  in  the 
Court  of  Versailles;  one  enlisted  under  the  Duke  de 
Choiseul,  the  other  under  the  Count  Maurepas. 
Choiseul  has  no  chance  of  succeeding,  though  he  is 
violent  for  war;  Maurepas  must  get  the  better;  he  is 
for  economy  and  peace."  This  was  his  information, 
which  I  mentioned  to  several  members  of  Congress. 
They  treated  it  as  a  fable,  depending  entirely  on  Dr. 
Franklin's  intelligence. 

The  truth  of  the  matter  is  this : — Dr.  Franklin  built 
upon  the  success  of  Choiseul.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
France,  he  found  him  out  of  place,  his  counsels  repro 
bated,  and  his  party  dwindled  into  an  insignificant 
faction.  This  you  may  depend  upon  to  be  the  true 
state  of  affairs  in  France,  or  the  court  of  Dr.  F.;  and, 
further,  by  vast  numbers  of  letters  found  on  board 
prizes  taken  by  the  king's  ships,  it  appears  that  all 
commerce  with  the  merchants,  through  whom  all  your 
supplies  have  been  conveyed,  will  be  at  an  end,  the 
letters  being  full  of  complaints  of  no  remittances  from 
America,  and  many  individuals  having  generally  suf 
fered. 

From  your  friends  in  England  you  have  nothing  to 
expect.  Their  numbers  have  diminished  to  a  cipher; 


VALLEY      FORGE.  63 

the  spirit  of  the  whole  nation  is  in  activity  j  a  few 
sounding  mimes  among-  the  nobility,  though  perpetu 
ally  ringing  in  your  ears,  are  without  character,  with 
out  influence.  Disappointed  ambition  has  made  them 
desperate,  and  they  only  wish  to  imike  the  deluded 
Americans  instruments  of  revenge.  All  orders  and 
ranks  of  men  in  Great  Britain  are  now  unanimous, 
and  determined  to  risk  their  all  with  content.  Trade 
and  manufactures  are  found  to  flourish,  and  new  chan 
nels  are  continually  offering,  that  will  perhaps  more 
than  supply  the  loss  of  the  old. 

In  America  your  harbors  are  blocked  up,  your 
cities  fall  one  after  another;  fortress  after  fortress, 
battle  after  battle  is  lost.  A  British  army,  after  hav 
ing  passed  unmolested  through  a  vast  extent  of  coun 
try,  have  possessed  themselves  of  the  Capital  of  Ame 
rica.  How  unequal  the  contest!  How  fruitless  the 
expense  of  blood !  Under  so  many  discouraging  cir 
cumstances,  can  virtue,  can  honor,  can  the  love  of 
your  country,  prompt  you  to  proceed?  Humanity 
itself,  and  sure  humanity  is  no  stranger  to  your  breast, 
calls  upon  you  to  desist.  Your  army  must  perish  for 
want  of  common  necessaries,  or  thousands  of  inno 
cent  families  must  perish  to  support  them;  wherever 
they  encamp,  the  country  must  be  impoverished; 
wherever  thoy  march,  the  troops  of  Britain  will  pur 
sue,  and  must  complete  the  destruction  which  Ame 
rica  herself  has  begun.  Perhaps  it  may  be  said,  it  is 
better  to  die  than  to  be  made  slaves.  This,  indeed,  is 
a  splendid  maxim  in  theory,  and  perhaps,  in  some  in- 


64  W  A  S  H  I  N  G  T  0  N      AT 

stances,  may  be  found  experimentally  true ;  but  when 
there  is  the  least  probability  of  an  happy  accommoda 
tion,  surely  wisdom  and  humanity  call  for  some  sacri 
fices  to  be  imide,  to  prevent  inevitable  destruction. 
You  well  know  there  is  but  one  invincible  bar  to  such 
an  accommodation ;  could  this  be  removed,  other  obsta 
cles  might  readily  be  removed.  It  is  to  you,  and  you 
alone,  your  bleeding  country  looks,  and  calls  aloud  for 
this  sacrifice.  Your  arm  alone  has  strength  sufficient 
to  remove  this  bar.  May  heaven  inspire  you  with 
this  glorious  resolution  of  exerting  your  strength,  at 
this  crisis,  and  immortalizing  yourself  as  friend  and 
guardian  to  your  country!  Your  penetrating  eye 
needs  not  more  explicit  language  to  discern  my  mean 
ing.  With  that  prudence  and  delicacy,  therefore,  of 
which  I  know  you  possessed,  represent  to  Congress  the 
indispensable  necessity  of  rescinding  the  hasty  and 
ill-advised  declaration  of  independency.  Recommend, 
and  you  have  an  undoubted  right  to  recommend,  an 
immediate  cessation  of  hostilities.  Let  the  contro 
versy  be  taken  up  where  that  declaration  left  it,  and 
where  Lord  Howe  certainly  expected  to  find  it  left. 
Let  men  of  clear  and  impartial  characters,  in  or  out  of 
Congress,  liberal  in  their  sentiments,  heretofore  inde 
pendent  in  their  fortunes, — and  some  sucli  may  be 
found  in  America, — be  appointed  to  confer  with  his 
Majesty's  Commissioners.  Let  them,  if  they  please, 
propose  some  well-digested  constitutional  plan,  to  lay 
before  them  at  the  commencement  of  the  negotiation. 
When  they  have  gone  thus  far,  I  am  confident  the 


VALLEY      FORGE.  65 

usual  happy  consequences  will  ensue;  unanimity  will 
immediately  take  place  through  the  different  pro 
vinces;  thousands  who  are  now  ardently  wishing  and 
praying  for  such  a  measure,  will  step  forth,  and  de 
clare  themselves  the  zealous  advocates  for  constitu 
tional  liberty;  and  millions  will  bless  the  hero  that 
left  the  field  of  war,  to  decide  this  most  important 
contest  with  the  weapons  of  wisdom  and  humanity. 

Oh !  Sir,  let  no  false  ideas  of  worldly  honor  deter 
you  from  engaging  in  so  glorious  a  task.  Whatever 
censure  may  be  thrown  out  by  mean,  illiberal  minds, 
your  character  will  rise  in  the  estimation  of  the  vir 
tuous  and  noble.  It  will  appear  with  lustre  in  the  an 
nals  of  history,  and  form  a  glorious  contrast  to  that  of 
those  who  have  fought  to  obtain  conquest,  and  gratify 
their  own  ambition  by  the  destruction  of  their  species 
and  the  ruin  of  their  country.  Be  assured,  Sir,  that 
I  write  not  this  under  the  eye  of  any  British  officer, 
or  person  connected  with  the  British  army,  or  minis 
try.  The  sentiments  I  express  are  the  real  sentiments 
of  my  own  heart,  such  as  I  have  long  held,  and  which  I 
should  have  made  known  to  you  by  letter  before,  had  I 
not  fully  expected  an  opportunity  of  a  private  confer 
ence.  When  you  passed  through  Philadelphia  on  your 
way  to  Wilmington,  I  was  confined,  by  a  severe  fit  of  the 
gravel,  to  my  chamber;  I  have  since  continued  much 
indisposed,  and  times  have  been  so  very  distressing, 
that  I  had  neither  spirit  to  write  a  letter,  nor  an  op 
portunity  to  convey  it  when  written ;  nor  do  I  yet  know 
by  what  means  I  shall  get  these  sheets  to  your  hands. 
G* 


GG  WASHINGTON      AT 

I  would  fain  hope  that  I  have  said  nothing  by 
which  your  delicacy  can  be  in  the  least  hurt.  If  I 
have,  I  assure  you  it  has  been  without  the  least  inten 
tion,  and,  therefore,  your  candor  will  lead  you  to  for 
give  me.  I  have  spoke  freely  of  Congress  and  of  the 
army;  but  what  I  have  said  is  partly  from  my  own 
knowledge,  and  partly  from  the  information  of  some 
respectable  members  of  the  former,  and  some  of  the 
best  officers  of  the  latter.  I  would  not  offend  the 
meanest  person  upon  earth  ;  what  I  say  to  you  I  say 
in  confidence,  to  answer  what  I  cannot  but  deem  a 
most  valuable  purpose.  I  love  my  country;  I  love 
you;  but  to  the  love  of  truth,  the  love  of  peace,  and 
the  love  of  God,  I  hope  I  should  be  enabled,  if  called 
upon  to  the  trial,  to  sacrifice  every  other  inferior  love. 

If  the  arguments  made  use  of  in  this  letter  should 
have  so  much  influence  as  to  engage  you  in  the  glori 
ous  work  which  I  have  warmly  recommended,  I^shall 
ever  deem  my  success  the  highest  temporal  favor  that 
Providence  could  grant  me.  Your  interposition  and 
advice,  I  am  confident,  would  meet  with  a  favorable 
reception  from  the  authority  under  which  you  act. 

If  it  should  not,  you  have  an  infallible  recourse 
still  left;  negotiate  for  your  country  at  the  head  of 
your  army.  After  all,  it  may  appear  presumption,  as 
an  individual,  to  address  himself  to  you  on  a  subject 
of  such  magnitude,  or  to  say  what  measures  would 
best  secure  the  interest  and  welfare  of  a  whole  Conti 
nent.  The  friendly  and  favorable  opinion  you  have 
always  expressed  for  me,  emboldens  me  to  undertake 


VALLEY      FORGE.  67 

it,  and  which  has  greatly  added  to  the  weight  of  this 
motive.  I  have  been  strongly  impressed  with  a  sense 
of  duty  upon  the  occasion,  which  left  my  conscience 
uneasy,  and  my  heart  afflicted,  till  I  fully  discharged 
it.  I  am  no  enthusiast;  the  course  is  new  and  singu 
lar  to  me;  but  I  could  not  enjoy  one  moment's  peace 
till  this  letter  was  written.  With  the  most  ardent 
prayers  for  your  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal  welfare, 
I  am  your  most 

Obedient  and  humble  friend  and  servant, 

JACOB  DUCHE. 


"  This  letter  elicited  no  reply  from  Wash 
ington,  and  no  other  notice  of  it  than  to 
enclose  it  in  his  despatches  to  Congress. 
Copies  of  it  were  speedily  taken  and  circu 
lated,  and  it  was  soon  printed  in  the  news 
papers.  The  respectable  character  of  Mr. 
Duche,  and  the  remarkable  tenor  of  the 
letter,  gave  it  notoriety  at  the  time,  and 
caused  the  particulars  to  be  recorded  among 
the  events  of  history. 

"  Mr.  Duche  had  married  a  sister  of  Mr. 
Francis  Ilopkinson,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  who,  when  the 


6S  WASHINGTON      AT 

letter  was  written,  was  at  Bordentown,  as  a 
member  of  the  Continental  Navy  Board.  A 
copy  \vas  forwarded  to  Mr.  Ilopkinson,  and 
lie  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Duche  on  the  sub 
ject,  which  he  enclosed  to  General  Washing 
ton,  that  it  might  be  transmitted  to  him  in 
Philadelphia,  through  the  regular  conveyance 
of  a  flag."* 

This  letter  was  received  by  General  Wash 
ington,  and  elicited  the  following  in  reply: 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON    TO    FRANCIS    IIOPKIXSON. 
Head  Quarters,  21  November,  1777. 
SIR, 

I  am  favoured  with  yours  of  the  14th  inst.,  inclos 
ing  a  letter  for  the  llcv.  Mr.  Duchd  I  will  endeavor 
to  forward  it  to  him,  but  I  imagine  it  will  never  be 
permitted  to  reach  his  hands.  I  confess  to  you,  that  T 
was  not  more  surprised  than  concerned,  at  receiving 
so  extraordinary  a  letter  from  Mr.  Duche,  of  whom  I 
had  entertained  the  most  favorable  opinion,  and  I  am 
still  willing  to  suppose,  that  it  was  rather  dictated  by 
his  fears  than  by  his  real  sentiments;  but  I  very  much 
doubt  whether  the  great  numbers  of  respectable  char 
acters,  in  the  state  and  army,  on  whom  he  has  bestowed 

*  Wash  ing  ton's  Writings.  (Sparks.)  Vol.  v. 


VALLEY      FORGE.  69 

the  most  unprovoked  and  unmerited  abuse,  will  ever 
attribute  it  to  the  same  cause,  or  forgive  the  man,  who 
has  artfully  endeavored  to  engage  me  to  sacrifice 
them  to  purchase  my  own  safety. 

I  never  intended  to  make  the  letter  more  public, 
than  by  laying  it  before  Congress.  I  thought  this  a 
duty,  which  I  owed  to  myself;  for,  had  any  accident 
happened  to  the  army  entrusted  to  my  command,  and 
it  had  ever  afterwards  appeared,  that  such  a  letter  had 
been  written  to  and  received  by  me,  might  it  not  have 
been  said,  that  I  had  betrayed  my  country  ?  And 
would  not  such  a  correspondence,  if  kept  a  secret,  have 
civen  good  grounds  for  the  suspicion  ?  I  thank  you 
for  your  favorable  sentiments,  which  you  are  pleased 
to  express  of  me,  and  I  hope  no  act  of  mine  will  ever 
induce  you  to  alter  them.  I  am,  etc., 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON'. 

"Mr.Hopkinson's  letter  to  Duche  deserves 
to  be  recorded  in  this  place,  not  more  on  ac 
count  of  its  connexion  with  the  subject,  than 
of  the  force  and  feeling  with  which  it  is 
written,  and  its  lofty  tone  of  patriotism  and 
public  virtue." 

Bordentown,  14  November,  1777. 
DEAR  BROTHER, 

A  letter  signed  with  your  name,  dated  at  Philadel 
phia,  on  the  8th  of  October,  and  addressed  to  his 
Excellency  General  Washington,  is  handed  about  the 


70  WASHINGTON      AT 

country.  Many  copies  arc  taken,  and  I  doubt  not  but 
it  will  soon  get  into  the  press,  nnd  become  public 
throughout  the  Continent.  Words  cannot  express  the 
grief  and  consternation  that  wounded  my  soul  at  the 
sight  of  this  fatal  performance.  What  infatuation 
could  influence  you  tooflorto  his  Excellency  an  address 
filled  with  gross  misrepresentation,  illiberal  abuse,  and 
sentiments  unworthy  of  a  man  of  character?  You 
have  endeavoured  to  screen  your  own  weaknesses  by 
the  most  artful  glosses,  and  to  apologize  to  the  General 
for  the  instability  of  your  temper  in  a  manner,  that  I 
am  sure  cannot  be  satisfactory  to  your  own  conscience. 

I  could  go  through  this  extraordinary  letter,  and 
point  out  to  you  truth  distorted  in  every  leading  part. 
But  the  world  will  doubtless  do  this  with  a  severity, 
that  must  be  daggers  to  the  sensibilities  of  your  heart. 
Read  that  letter  over  again,  and  if  possible  divest 
yourself  of  the  fears  and  influence,  whatever  they  wore, 
that  induced  you  to  pen  it.  Consider  its  contents  with 
an  impartial  eye,  and  reflect  on  the  ideas  it  will 
naturally  raise  in  the  minds  of  the  multitude. 

You  will  then  find,  that  by  a  vain  and  weak  effort 
you  have  attempted  the  integrity  of  one,  whose  virtue 
is  impregnable  to  the  assaults  of  fear  or  flattery,  whose 
judgment  needed  not  your  information,  and  who,  I  nm 
sure,  would  have  resigned  his  charge  the  moment  he 
found  it  likely  to  lead  him  out  of  the  paths  of  virtue 
and  honor.  You  will  find  that  you  have  drawn  upon 
you  the  resentment  of  Congress,  the  resentment  of  the 
army,  the  resentment  of  many  worthy  and  noble  char- 


VALLEY      FORGE.  71 

acters  in  England,  whom  you  know  not,  and  the  resent 
ment  of  your  insulted  country.  You  have  ventured 
to  assert  many  things  at  large  of  the  affairs  of  England; 
France,  and  America,  which  are  far  from  being  true, 
and  which,  from  your  contracted  knowledge  in  these 
matters,  it  is  impossible  for  you  to  be  acquainted  with. 
In  the  whole  of  your  letter,  you  have  never  recom 
mended  yourself  to  those,  whose  favour  you  seem 
desirous  of  obtaining,  by  expatiating  on  the  justice 
or  humanity  of  their  conduct;  and  at  the  same  time 
have  said  everything  that  can  render  you  odious  to 
those,  on  whom  the  happiness  of  your  future  life  must 
depend. 

You  presumptuously  advise  our  worthy  General,  on 
whom  millions  depend  with  implicit  confidence,  to 
abandon  their  dearest  hopes,  and  with  or  without  the 
consent  of  his  constituents,  "  to  negotiate  for  America  at 
the  head  of  his  army." 

Would  not  the  blood  of  the  slain  in  battle  rise 
against  such  perfidy  ?  And  with  whom  would  you 
have  him  negotiate?  Are  they  not  those,  who,  with 
out  the  sanction  of  any  civil,  moral,  or  religious  right, 
have  come  three  thousand  miles  to  destroy  our  peace 
and  property,  to  lay  waste  your  native  country  with  fire 
and  sword,  and  cruelly  murder  its  inhabitants  ?  Look 
for  their  justice  and  honour  in  their  several  proclama 
tions,  and  look  for  their  humanity  in  the  jails  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  and  in  your  own  Potter's 
Field.  The  whole  force  of  the  reasoning  contained  in 
your  letter  tends  to  this  point;  that  virtue  and  honour 


V 


72  WASHINGTON      AT 

require  us  to  stand  by  truth,  as  long  as  it  can  be  done 
with  safety,  but  that  her  cause  may  be  abandoned  on 
the  approach  of  danger;  or,  in  other  words,  that  the 
justice  of  the  American  cause  ought  to  be  squared  by 
the  success  of  her  arms.  On  the  whole,  I  find  it  im 
possible  to  reconcile  the  matter  and  style  of  this  letter 
with  your  general  conduct,  or  with  the  virtues  of  your 
heart,  I  would  fain  hope,  notwithstanding  your  asser 
tion  to  the  contrary,  that  you  wrote  it  with  a  bayonet 
held  to  your  breast,  by  order  of  the  unprincipled 
usurpers  of  your  native  city.  But  my  chief  motive 
for  writing  to  you  at  this  time  is  to  assure  you,  that 
I  firmly  believe  that  our  just  defensive  war  will  be 
crowned  with  success,  and  that  we  shall  ere  long  re 
turn  to  our  habitations  in  Philadelphia.  I  would, 
therefore,  most  earnestly  warn  you  to  evade  the  dismal 
consequences  of  your  ill-judged  address  to  our  beloved 
General.  Do  all  you  can  to  wipe  off,  if  possible,  its 
unhappy  effects.  I  tremble  for  you,  for  my  good  sis 
ter,  and  her  little  family.  I  tremble  for  your  personal 
safety.  Be  assured  I  write  this  from  true  brotherly 
love.  Our  intimacy  has  been  of  a  long  duration,  even 
from  our  early  youth;  long  and  uninterrupted,  without 
even  a  rub  in  the  way ;  and  so  long  have  the  sweetness 
of  your  manners,  and  the  integrity  of  your  heart, 
fixed  my  affections. 

I  am  perfectly  disposed  to  attribute  this  unfortunate 
step  to  the  timidity  of  your  temper,  the  weakness  of 
your  nerves,  and  the  undue  influence  of  those  about  you. 
But  will  the  world  hold  you  so  excused  ?  Will  the  indivi- 


VALLEY      FORGE.  7o 

duals  you  have  so  freely  censured  and  characterized  with 
contempt  have  this  tenderness  for  you  ?  I  fear  not. 
They  will  only  judge  of  your  conduct  by  its  rashness, 
and  proportion  their  resentment  to  their  sensibility  of 
the  wounds  you  have  given. 

I  pray  God  to  inspire  you  with  some  means  of  ex 
tricating  yourself  from  this  embarrassing  difficulty. 
For  my  own  part,  I  have  well  considered  the  principles 
on  which  I  took  part  with  my  country,  and  am  deter 
mined  to  abide  by  them  to  the  last  extremity.  I  beg 
my  love  to  my  good  mother,  and  my  affectionate  sisters, 
I  often  think  of  them  with  great  pain  and  anxiety, 
lest  they  should  suffer  from  the  want  of  those  necessary 
supplies,  that  are  now  cut  off.  May  God  preserve 
them  and  you  in  this  time  of  trial.  I  am,  etc., 

FRANCIS  HOPKINSON. 

"Mr.  Duche  went  to  England  with  his 
family,  and  was  appointed  preacher  in  the 
Lambeth  Asylum,  where  the  fame  of  his 
eloquence  drew  around  him  a  large  concourse 
of  hearers.  He  was  respected  by  the  best 
classes  of  society,  and  appears  to  have 
received  a  competent  remuneration  for  his 
pastoral  services,  and  to  have  enjoyed  all 
that  consideration  to  which  he  was  entitled 
by  his  character  and  profession.  He  WHS  ill 


7  i  WASHINGTON      AT 

nfc  ease,  however,  in  a  foreign  land,  and 
sighed  to  return  to  his  native  country.  The 
following  letter  is  creditable  to  his  heart,  and 
shows  at  least  that  he  was  constant  in  his 
attachments,  and  ready  to  confess  an  error 
into  which  he  had  been  betrayed  by  a  weak 
ness  of  judgment." 

JACOB    DUCIIE    TO    GEORGE    WASHINGTON. 

Asylum,  Lambeth,  2  April,  1783. 

SIR, 

Will  your  Excellency  condescend  to  accept  of  a 
few  lines  from  one,  who  ever  was  and  wishes  still  to 
be  your  sincere  friend,  who  never  intentionally  sought 
to  give  you  a  moment's  pain,  who  entertains  for  you 
ihe  highest  personal  respect,  and  would  be  happy  to  be 
assured  under  your  own  hand,  that  he  does  not  labor 
under  your  displeasure,  but  that  you  freely  forgive 
what  a  weak  judgment,  but  a  very  affectionate  heart, 
once  presumed  to  advise?  Many  circumstances,  at 
present  unknown  to  you,  conspired  to  make  me  deem  it 
my  duty  to  write  to  you.  Ignorance  and  simplicity  saw 
not  the  necessity  of  your  divulging  the  letter.  I  am 
convinced,  however,  that  you  could  not,  in  your  public 
station,  do  otherwise.  I  cannot  say  a  word  in  vindica 
tion  of  my  conduct  but  this,  that  I  had  been  for 
months  before  distressed  with  continual  apprehensions 
for  you  and  all  my  friends  without  the  British  lines. 


VALLEY      FORGE.  i O 

I  looked  upon  all  as  prone;  or  that  nothing  could  save 
you,  but  rescinding  the  Declaration  of  Independency. 
Upon  this  ground  alone  I  presumed  to  speak  ;  not  to  ^ 
advise  an  act  of  base  treachery,  my  soul  would  have 
recoiled  from  the  thought;  not  to  surrender  your  army, 
or  betray  the  righteous  cause  of  your  country,  but,  at 
the  head  of  that  army,  supporting  and  supported  by 
them,  to  negotiate  with  Britain  for  our  constitutional 
rights. 

Can  you  then  join  with  my  country  in  pardoning 
this  error  of  judgment?  Will  you  yet  honor  me  with 
your  great  interest  and  influence,  by  recommending,  at 
least  expressing  your  approbation  of  the  repeal  of  an  V 
act,  that  keeps  me  in  a  state  of  banishment  from  my 
native  country,  from  the  arms  of  a  dear  aged  father, 
and  the  embraces  of  a  numerous  circle  of  valuable  and 
long-loved  friends  ?  Your  liberal,  generous  mind,  I 
am  persuaded,  will  never  exclude  me  wholly  from  your 
regard  for  a  mere  political  error;  especially,  as  you 
must  have  heard,  that,  since  the  date  of  that  letter,  T 
have  led  a  life  of  perfect  retirement,  and  since  my 
arrival  in  England  have  devoted  myself  wholly  to  the 
duties  of  my  profession,  and  confined  my  acquaintance 
to  a  happy  circle  of  literary  and  religious  friends. 

I  have  written  to  my  father  and  many  of  my 
friends  largely  on  this  subject,  requesting  them  to 
make  such  application  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in 
my  behalf,  as  may  be  judged  necessary  and  expedient. 
Should  this  application  be  honored  with  success,  I 
know  of  nothing  that  would  more  effectually  satisfy 


WASHINGTON      AT 

my  desires  in  a  matter  of  such  importance  to  myself 
and  my  family,  as  a  line  or  two  from  your  Excellency, 
expressive  of  your  approbation  of  my  return.  Tem 
poral  emoluments  are  not  wanting  to  induce  me  to 
remain  for  life  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  I  have 
been  most  hospitably  received  and  kindly  treated  by  all 
ranks  of  people,  and  I  should  be  ungrateful  not  to 
acknowledge  in  the  strongest  terms  my  obligation  to 
those,  who  have  placed  me  in  the  easy  and  comfortable 
situation  I  now  enjoy.  It  is  not  necessity,  therefore, 
but  unalterable  affection  to  my  native  country,  that 
urges  me  to  seek  return.  With  every  good  wish  and 
prayer  for  your  best  felicity,  and  my  most  hearty  con 
gratulations  on  the  happy  event  of  peace,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  hum 
ble  servant, 

JACOB  DUCIIE. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  TO  JACOB  DTJCHE. 

Head  Quarters,  10  August,  1783. 
SIR, 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  2d  of  April,  and, 
reflecting  on  its  contents,  I  cannot  but  say  that  I  am 
heartily  sorry  for  the  occasion  which  has  produced  it. 
Personal  enmity  I  bear  none  to  any  man.  So  far, 
therefore,  as  your  return  to  this  country  depends  on 
my  private  voice,  it  would  be  given  in  favor  of  it  with 
cheerfulness.  But,  removed  as  I  am  from  the  people 
and  policy  of  the  State,  in  which  you  formerly  re 
sided,  and  to  whose  determination  your  case  must  be 


VALLEY      FORGE.  77 

submitted,  it  is  my  duty,  whatever  may  be  my  incli 
nation,  to  leave  its  decision  to  its  constitutional  judges. 
Should  this  be  agreeable  to  your  wishes,  it  cannot  fail 
to  meet  iny  entire  approbation.  I  am,  &c. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 

"  The  laws  of  Pennsylvania  excluding  the 
refugees  from  that  State,  were  not  repealed 
till  after  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Duche  returned  to 
Philadelphia  in  the  year  1790,  much  broken 
in  health,  having  suffered  a  paralytic  affec 
tion.  He  died  in  1704,  being  then  about 
sixty  years  of  age."* 

*  Washington's  Writings.  (Sparks.)  Yol.  v. 

7* 


78  CHRIST      CHURCH. 


GHRIST   G 

PHILADELPHIA. 


THIS  fine  building  ranks  among  the  most 
ancient  church  edifices  in  the  country,  and 
is  connected  with  many  interesting  remi 
niscences  of  the  past.  It  was  founded  in 
1695,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clay 
ton.  The  first  building  erected  was  humble 
indeed ;  it  was  but  one  story  high,  and  so 
low  that  the  ceiling  could  be  touched  by 
the  uplifted  hand.  The  bell,  which  was  used 
to  summon  the  people  to  worship,  swung  in 
the  crotch  of  a  large  tree  in  front  of  the 
church. 

In  1710,  a  larger,  and  far  more  commodi 
ous  building  was  erected,  enclosing  the  old 
one,  in  which  the  congregation  continued  to 


CHRIST     CHURCH.  79 

worship  until  the  new  building  was  suffi 
ciently  completed  to  admit  of  its  removal. 

In  1727,  the  west  end  of  the  church,  as  it 
now  stands,  was  erected.  In  1731,  the  east 
ern  side  was  finished.  The  building  was 
erected  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  John 
Kearsley,  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  said  to 
have  introduced  this  style  of  architecture, 
which  is  similar  to  that  adopted  in  the  old 
State  House.  It  is  a  solid  structure,  and 
being  built  of  dark  bricks  throughout,  pre 
sents  a  heavy  and  sombre  appearance. 

The  steeple,  which  is  one  of  the  loftiest  in 
the  city,  was  erected  in  1753-4  ;  it  is  reputed 
to  be  196  feet  in  height,  and  is  of  an  ele 
gant  form.  The  means  for  its  construction 
was  raised  by  a  lottery.  The  chime  of  bells 
in  this  church  are  very  fine,  their  musical 
tones  break  as  gently  on  the  sacred  stillness 
of  the  Sabbath  as  in  days  of  yore,  when  the 
people  gathered  from  the  neighboring  towns 
and  villages  to  listen  to  their  harmony. 


80  CHRIST      C  II  U  R  C  H. 

These  bells  were  sunk  in  the  Delaware  be 
fore  the  British  entered  Philadelphia,  but 
were  hung  up  again  immediately  after  the 
evacuation  of  the  city. 

Among  the  revolutionary  incidents  con 
nected  with  this  church,  was  the  destruction 
of  a  bust  of  King  George,  carved  in  relief 
in  front  of  the  church.  When  the  contest 
began,  the  spirited  patriots  could  no  longer 
brook  this  effigy  of  their  oppressor  amongst 
them.  They  mounted  to  the  spot  by  means 
of  a  ladder,  and  with  a  hatchet  chopped  off 
its  head,  and  otherwise  mutilated  it. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  alterations  in 
the  interior,  the  church  remains  unchanged 
since  the  days  when  Washington  and  Frank 
lin — when  Congress  and  the  officers  of  the 
Continental  army  worshipped  within  its  walls. 

The  engraving  is  from  a  very  old  picture, 
with  the  church  surrounded  by  the  humble 
buildings  of  the  Revolutionary  period. 


ST   PETER'S   CH  U  RC  H,  PH  I  LADELPH  I  A 


ST.    PETER'S    CHURCH.         81 


ST.  PETER'S  CHURCH. 


ST.  PETER'S  CHURCH,  Philadelphia,  ranks 
among  the  time-honored  Church  edifices  of 
the  country.  Although  a  fine  building,  it  can 
boast  of  but  little  architectural  display.  Its 
exterior  is  plain,  and  almost  entirely  devoid 
of  ornament ;  in  its  style  there  is  some  re 
semblance  to  Christ  Church,  though-  less 
ornate,  and  far  more  aerial  and  agreeable  in 
its  effect.  At  the  west  end,  is  a  high,  square 
brick  tower,  from  which  rises  a  graceful  and 
tapering  spire.  On  its  summit  is  a  large 
ball  and  golden  cross  ;  from  its  lofty  eleva 
tion,  this  glittering  symbol  of  the  Christian 
faith  is  a  conspicuous  object,  flashing  in  the 
sunlight  with  a  lustre  as  pure  as  the  redeem 
ing  faith  it  represents. 


82  ST.    PETER'S    c  H  u  u  c  11. 

In  beauty  of  situation  this  church  is  unri 
valled,  the  grounds  are  extensive,  of  great 
beauty,  and  well  kept;  although  situated  in 
the  midst  of  business,  and  in  a  densely  popu 
lated  district,  there  is  not  within  the  limits 
of  the  city  a  lovelier  or  more  attractive  spot. 

In  the  cemetery  attached  to  the  church 
are  many  fine  tombs  and  monuments  cover 
ing  the  remains  of  the  honored  dead. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  Duche"  was  once  rector  of 
this  church.  At  the  eastern  end  of  the  church, 
marked  by  an  unpretending  stone,  are  buried 
his  wife  and  several  of  his  family. 

The  engraving  represents  the  church  only, 
without  the  adjacent  scenery,  or  the  spire, 
which  is  a  recent  addition.  It  is  surrounded 
by  trees,  whose  rich  foliage,  in  summer,  al 
most  excludes  it  from  view.  The  church  has 
a  fine  chime  of  bells,  which  are  rung  on  the 
Sabbath  and  other  appropriate  occasions. 


UNITED     STATES     SENATE,    A.    D.    1850.      83 


Unite*  States  Senate,  31  P.  1 850. 


IN  bringing  before  the  public  this  elegant 
engraving,  the  publishers  feel  confident  of 
having  produced  a  work  of  great  value  to 
the  American  people ;  independent  of  its  in 
trinsic  merit  as  a  work  of  art,  which  is  of 
the  highest  order,  it  is  pre-eminently  na 
tional  in  its  character,  and  must  claim  the 
particular  attention  of  the  American  people 
as  the  finest  national  picture  ever  produced 
in  the  country,  whilst  the  exquisite  manner 
in  which  the  subject  is  rendered,  must  com 
mand  the  admiration  of  every  lover  of  art. 
The  point  of  time  selected  by  the  artist  may 
justly  be  regarded  as  the  period  when  the 
representative  greatness  of  the  country  had 


84       UNITED    STATES    SENATE,    A.    D.    1850. 

reached  its  acme.  It  represents  the  cele 
brated  Henry  Clay  of  Kentucky,  delivering 
his  great  speech  on  the  state  of  the  Union, 
in  1850,  the  last  words  he  ever  uttered  in 
that  Senate  chamber  where  he  had  toiled  so 
long  and  so  faithfully  in  the  public  service. 
Around  him  are  beautifully  grouped  his  dis 
tinguished  cotemporaries,  listening  with  rapt 
attention  to  the  thrilling  eloquence  of  the  re 
nowned  American  orator;  prominent  among 
them  are  the  celebrated  Daniel  Webster, 
Millard  Fillmore,  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Thomas  H. 
Benton,  Gen.  Cass,  Seward,  Hale,  Houston, 
King,  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  and  including  the 
entire  number  of  senators  of  that  session. 
The  picture  possesses  great  additional  inte 
rest  from  the  fact,  that  it  was  the  last 
senate  in  which  the  most  distinguished  of 
these  great  men  ever  appeared  together ;  the 
congratulations  that  hailed  the  settlement  of 
the  agitating  questions  before  the  country 
had  scarcely  ceased,  when  the  voice  of 


UNITED    STATES    SENATE,    A.  P.    1850.        85 

mourning  arose  in  the  land,  from  the  North 
to  the  South,  theEast  and  the  West,  it  went 
forth  in  one  commingling  cry,  for  the  most 
distinguished  of  her  sons  had  fallen.  With 
the  session  of  1850  closed  the  earthly  labors 
of  Clay,  Webster,  and  Calhoun;  they  passed 
from  the  council  chamber  to  the  grave,  and 
the  halls  that  had  so  often  echoed  to  their 
words  of  eloquence  and  power,  were  destined 
to  know  them  no  more.  The  portraits  in  the 
engraving  are  universally  acknowledged  to  be 
the  most  accurate  ever  published  of  these  dis 
tinguished  individuals;  they  are  taken  princi 
pally  from  the  best  daguerreotypes,  and  from 
the  most  reliable  portraits  that  could  be  pro 
cured.  The  picture  is  34  inches  by  27  in 
size,  painted  by  P.  Rothermel,  of  Philadel 
phia,  in  his  best  style,  and  engraved  by 
Robert  Whitechurch,  of  London. 

The  engraving  can  be  securely  rolled,  and 
sent  to  any  part  of  the  country.  Persons 
wishing  to  ascertain  the  terms  of  subscrip- 


8G        UNITED    STATES   SENATE,    A.  D.    1850. 

tion  for  artist's  proofs,  colored  copies,  India 
or  plain  proofs,  can  do  so  by  directing  to 
J.  M.  Butler,  84  Chestnut  Street,  Jayne's 
Granite  Building,  Philadelphia. 


A     MERRY-MAKING. 


87 


A  MERRY-MAKING 

IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME, 


"  When  the  merry  bells  ring  round, 
And  the  jocund  rebecs  sound 
To  many  a  youth,  and  many  a  maid, 
Dancing  in  the  chequered  shade  ; 
And  young  and  old  come  forth  to  play 
On  a  sunshine  holy-day. 

Milton's  L1  Allegro. 

IN  this  beautiful  engraving  we  have  one  of 
those  delightful  pictures  of  rural  festivity, 
that,  in  simplicity  and  true  enjoyment,  closely 
accords  with  those  of  our  own  time.  It  is 
one  of  those  scenes  which  the  painter  takes 
an  especial  interest  in  portraying.  In  this 
composition,  we  have  all  the  excellencies, 
the  life,  vigor,  and  humor  of  the  old  masters, 


88  A     MERRY-MAKING. 

without  the  common-place  vulgarities  that 
generally  distinguished  their  delineations  of 
rural  scenes  and  festivities. 

In  the  "  huge  old  oak,"  that  occupies  the 
centre  of  the  picture,  we  recognize  one  of 
those  monarchs  of  the  wood,  that  might  well 
be  the  pride  of  the  village,  or  become  the 
boast  of  a  nation.  Beneath  its  wide-spread 
ing  branches  the  old  and  young  have  gathered 
in  happy  groups,  intent  upon  those  innocent 
pastimes  that  bring  no  sorrow  or  bitter  re 
flections  in  their  train.  On  the  right  of  the 
picture,  embowered  among  trees,  are  clus 
tered  the  lovely  cottages,  with  luxuriant 
vines  and  flowers  crowning  the  humble  porch 
with  loveliness,  and  sheltering  the  little  win 
dows  with  their  graceful  foliage.  In  the  fore 
ground  of  the  picture  is  a  very  fine  group. 
Surrounded  by  happy  children  are  an  aged 
couple  on  whom  age  has  descended — 

'•  As  a  generous  winter, 
Frostv  but  kintllv." 


A      M  E  R  II  Y  -  M  A  K  I  N  G.  89 

The  old  lady,  who  sits  quietly  sipping  her 
tea  before  the  cottage  door,  is  evidently  en 
joying  the  confusion  of  her  aged  partner, 
who,  surrounded  by  a  group  of  happy  girls 
and  children,  is  being  led  forth  to  join  in  the 
more  active  pleasures  of  the  scene ;  in  the 
middle  distance  the  dance  is  merrily  footed 
by  a  group  of  villagers ;  on  the  left  of  the 
picture  is  a  knot  of  sturdy  men  engaged  in 
athletic  sports,  and  enjoying  themselves  in 
true  rustic  fashion. 

In  the  foreground  are  several  fine  groups ; 
in  one  stands  the  village  booby  twirling  his 
hat,  thoroughly  disconcerted  by  the  angry 
glances  of  the  lovers  whose  tete-a-tete  he 
has  evidently  disturbed ;  in  another  group, 
the  garrulous  fortune-teller  has  grasped  the 
hand  of  a  beautiful  girl,  who,  with  half  averted 
face  and  mingled  look  of  fear  and  pleasure, 
seems  to  be  listening  to  the  usual  story  of 
good  fortune  through  life.  The  only  reverse 
side  to  this  pleasing  composition  is  on  the 


90  A     MERRY-MAKING. 

left  of  the  picture,  where  a  besotted  boor, 
overcome  by  excess,  has  sunk  helplessly  in 
a  chair,  his  wife  stands  beside  him,  holding 
by  the  hand  her  ragged  boy;  in  this  touching 
little  episode,  in  which  there  is  much  signi 
ficance,  wre  have  the  only  digression  from  the 
spirit  of  happiness  prevailing  throughout  the 
work.  The  artist  has  exhibited  such  skill 
in  the  composition  of  the  various  groups,  as 
to  constitute  a  very  effective  picture;  and  it 
is  such  scenes  as  this,  speaking  of  the  plea 
sant  sunshine  and  the  heart's  happiness,  that 
are  always  welcome,  even  when  contemplated 
with  the  critic's  eye. 

To  those  who  have  passed  much  time  amid 
village  scenes,  this  picture  must  prove  nn 
ever  pleasing  memento,  and  a  delightful  re 
miniscence  to  those  who  have  but  occasion 
ally  been  a  participant  in  the  happy  scene  it 
represents. 

The  engraving  can  be  securely  rolled,  and 
sent  to  any  part  of  the  country.  Persons 


A     MERRY-MAKING. 


91 


wishing  to  ascertain  the  terms  of  subscrip 
tion  for  artist's  proofs,  colored  copies,  India 
or  plain  proofs,  can  do  so  by  directing  to 
J.  M.  Butler,  84  Chestnut  Street,  Jayne's 
Granite  Building,  Philadelphia. 


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